At the First Anniversary Press Conference:
"Administrative Capital Sejong, Restoring Citizens' Lives"
Focused on Reflecting Citizens' Will, Achieving Diverse Legislative Results
Despite Conflicts in the Process of Cooperation, Striving to Strengthen Sejong's Status as the Administrative Capital
Im Chaesung, chairman of Sejong City Council, is holding a press conference on the first anniversary of his inauguration. / Photo by Public Relations Team
On July 28, Lim Chaeseong, Chairperson of the Sejong City Council from the Democratic Party of Korea, held a press conference to mark the first anniversary of his inauguration for the latter half of the term. During the conference, he shared the achievements of the council's legislative activities over the past year and outlined future directions.
Chairperson Lim emphasized, "Under the banner of communication, empathy, and a trustworthy Sejong Special Self-Governing City Council, we have focused all our efforts to ensure that the will of the citizens, as the sovereign, is properly reflected in city administration and educational governance."
He explained, "Starting with the 91st extraordinary session in August last year and continuing through the 98th regular session in June this year, we held eight sessions over approximately 130 days. During this period, we reviewed and passed more than 510 ordinance bills and agenda items. Council members delivered 85 five-minute speeches to present various opinions and policy suggestions regarding city administration and educational governance. Additionally, they raised 18 questions related to city and educational administration, including urgent matters, to point out issues and propose solutions."
In particular, a total of 11 resolutions, including one urging the completion of the administrative capital, were adopted in the plenary session and delivered to the National Assembly and the government.
He added, "Through active on-site visits centered around standing committees, we listened directly to the voices of citizens and identified problems on the ground. We also held meetings to incorporate the opinions of citizens and stakeholders when drafting ordinances."
Chairperson Lim reflected, "Looking back, the past year was not without challenges." He explained that although he prioritized cooperation as the highest value in legislative activities, conflicts arose over certain issues, causing concern among citizens. He also noted that such conflicts were an important process for reflecting the will of the citizens in city administration.
He also mentioned that a national tax revenue shortfall led to a fiscal crisis, which resulted in a contraction of the local economy and created a harsh period that threatened the livelihoods of self-employed individuals and small business owners.
Chairperson Lim emphasized, "During an unimaginable period of emergency martial law and the subsequent impeachment situation, our citizens lost their sense of everyday stability amid deep anxiety and fear. However, even in times of crisis, it was always the citizens who remained steadfast. The council, in turn, was able to devote itself to legislative activities that carefully examined citizens' lives and laid the foundation for Sejong to become a true administrative capital."
He also expressed his determination regarding the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan. He stated, "I am well aware that there are concerns in some quarters that this move runs counter to the completion of the administrative capital. While I understand that this is a decision for the nation's future vision, I cannot help but feel regret that the relocation of ministries yet to move to Sejong was not prioritized."
Since the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has become a fait accompli, he asserted that the council would strongly recommend and ensure the implementation of practical supplementary measures to the central government, such as relocating the remaining ministries to Sejong City, in order to fill any functional gaps in the administrative capital that may arise.
He also expressed the view that the government's "Five Megaregions and Three Special Zones" national balanced development strategy needs to be revised to fully reflect Sejong City's unique characteristics and status.
Chairperson Lim explained, "The 'Five Megaregions and Three Special Zones' strategy aims to reorganize the country into five large metropolitan areas and three special self-governing provinces to capitalize on each region's characteristics and strengths. Sejong City is not only a part of the Chungcheong megacity, one of the five megaregions, but was also established as an administrative capital for national balanced development. Therefore, the strategy should be revised to 'Five Megaregions, Three Special Zones, and One Administrative Capital,' by adding Sejong as the administrative capital to the existing strategy."
This is to firmly establish Sejong's status as the administrative capital, to grant it the administrative and fiscal autonomy befitting a special self-governing city from the central government, and to grow the city into a place where, based on this autonomy, bold new policy models can be radically tested and innovatively applied.
Chairperson Lim stated, "The council will continue to put citizens at the center of its legislative activities. We will strive to ensure that the 4th council concludes its term successfully, and I ask that you continue to watch over a council that always does its best for the citizens."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
