Civil Society and Political Circles Criticize "Party Politics Ignoring Public Livelihoods"
Unified Stance Only When Raising Council Allowances or Going on Overseas Trips
Scene from the opening ceremony of the Sejong City Council in July 2022. At that time, all members of the People Power Party were absent, and only the Democratic Party members gathered to hold a half-hearted opening ceremony. This was due to discord over the organization of the council. Regarding the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the current situation in Sejong City also reflects half-hearted claims from the political circles. Photo by Public Relations Planning Team, Secretariat
A number of Sejong City Council members are facing controversy as they prepare for overseas training trips. Despite ongoing issues regarding the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan, these council members have not expressed any clear position but are actively participating in overseas training. The fact that these trips are taking place amid citizens' concerns about the ministry's relocation has led to a critical response.
Since the relocation is being pursued as a presidential campaign pledge, council members from the Democratic Party appear to be cautious in their remarks. However, with citizens' worries becoming a reality, the fact that the training is proceeding under such circumstances is likely to fuel further criticism of the representatives by the public.
In particular, there is growing public opinion that frames the opposition as coming from a specific political group (the People Power Party) and its supporters. This is increasingly seen as factional politics that divides people into opposing camps, highlighting the need for local council members to reflect on their actions. Democratic Party members, who hold the majority of seats, remain silent. Even when civil society expresses opposition, this silence continues. Critics point out that these council members, assuming the opposition comes from People Power Party supporters, are so entrenched in party politics that they neither listen to nor represent the citizens' perspectives.
Furthermore, although council members show differences of opinion on certain matters, they act in complete unison when it comes to overseas training or increasing council allowances, which only further frustrates citizens.
Although Sejong City holds the legal status of a metropolitan government, its council members functionally operate at the level of a basic local government in a single-tier city. These local lawmakers remain completely silent regarding citizens' opinions, and while reviewing local issues and preparing alternatives should come first, the issues themselves are being dismissed as mere arguments between opposing sides.
At such a time, public sentiment toward the council members' overseas trips is far from positive. In particular, criticism is mounting because council members with just over a year left in their terms often fail to bring back any meaningful practices that can be applied to the region after their trips.
One citizen commented, "I want to ask whether local council members are genuinely interested in foreign administrative systems and whether their overseas training brings any value that can be applied locally," adding, "I suspect these trips are just vacations funded by taxpayers' money." There is also speculation that, with the recent conclusion of a lengthy administrative audit, council members are using the holiday season as an excuse for overseas trips.
Currently, Council Chair Lim Chaeseong is in Eastern Europe on an official overseas training trip organized by the Council Chairs' Association of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils. In addition, seven members of the Industrial and Construction Committee are planning a training trip to Japan starting on the 13th of this month. In total, it is reported that 19 out of 20 Sejong City Council members have either already left for or are planning to go on overseas training trips.
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