"Both the Sejong Mayor and Local Council Members Are 'Representatives of the People'"

Confrontation Between Council and Executive Branch, Civil Servants Remain Passive
Respect and Recognition Elevate the Dignity of Citizens as Delegators

There are signs of confrontation between the executive branch and the local council in Sejong City. The media has frequently reported on unpleasant scenes, such as some council members and executive leaders raising their voices during plenary sessions. The prevailing view is that if such scenes continue, citizens who have entrusted politics and administration to these officials will be disappointed.

Multiple sources from civil society and the political community stated, "Both the mayor and the council members, who are elected by citizens' votes, are representatives of the people." In other words, each council member is a representative of citizens elected from their respective constituencies, and the mayor is also a representative elected by the citizens. Therefore, citizens did not elect them to engage in factional politics or fight along party lines.

The difference is that council members each have their own administrative district as a constituency, whereas the mayor's constituency encompasses the entire Sejong area, which includes all the council members' districts. Mayor Choi is the head of Sejong City's administration and has spent his entire career in administrative work.

He boasts an impressive administrative background. Among the heads of the 17 metropolitan cities and provinces nationwide, he is the only one who has worked exclusively in the executive branch, never in the political sphere. Unlike those who become heads of the executive branch after serving as local or national lawmakers, he has only worked in administration.

He retired from public office and was then elected as the head of a metropolitan government through a local election. As such, he is regarded as someone who has worked with a clear administrative philosophy and conviction. He is the only head of a local government in the country who did not have a political career, starting as an administrative officer and rising through the ranks to become a vice minister?a classic bureaucrat.

An official from the Ministry of Personnel Management said that even for those who pass the state civil service exam, it is not easy to rise beyond high-ranking positions to become a vice minister. Mayor Choi's administrative abilities and drive are widely recognized by both himself and others.

Against this backdrop, the ongoing unhealthy conflict and friction between the council and the executive branch have led to negative perceptions of the council members. There is criticism that they are using their status as representatives of the people to check the Sejong City administration under Mayor Choi's leadership.

There is even much gossip about the council members. Except for a few, many are criticized for lacking expertise, and some are said to have become council members simply because they caught the attention of those with the power to nominate party candidates. There are also questions and suspicions about their backgrounds before becoming council members. Emphasizing that council members are representatives of the people is considered so basic that doing so only highlights their lack of logical arguments to counter administrative reasoning.

A political insider commented, "When checking the administration, council members should remain logical and not stray from the essence of the issue, but in reality, this is often not the case. That is why they frequently emphasize their status as representatives of the people, even when it is not relevant to the matter at hand." He added, "Council members should not focus solely on justifying their own arguments but should also listen to the other side. Likewise, the mayor, despite his superior credentials, must respect the fact that council members are also elected by the citizens. The moment mutual respect breaks down, their true character as representatives of the people will be revealed."

He further remarked, "The current behavior of these representatives is publicly reflecting the level of Sejong citizens."