Choi Hojung Elected President of the Korea Council of Chairs of Metropolitan and Provincial Councils

Chairperson Choi Vows to Unite Efforts for Enactment of the Local Council Act
First Female President Since the Council's Establishment

Choi Hojung, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, has been elected as the president of the second half of the 19th term of the Korea Council of Chairs of Metropolitan and Provincial Councils, which is composed of chairpersons from 17 metropolitan and provincial councils nationwide. She is the first woman to hold this position since the council was established in 1991.

Choi Hojung, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, was elected on the 11th as the president of the second half of the 19th term of the Korea Council of Chairs of Metropolitan and Provincial Councils, composed of chairpersons from 17 metropolitan and provincial councils nationwide. Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Council.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council announced on the 12th that Chairperson Choi was unanimously elected to the presidency at the regular meeting of the Korea Council of Chairs of Metropolitan and Provincial Councils for 2025, which was held in Sejong City on the 11th. Her term will run until the end of June next year.

In her inauguration speech, President Choi stated, "I will devote my utmost efforts to enacting the Local Council Act so that local councils can make residents' lives safer and more comfortable," adding, "I will actively seek the attention and cooperation of the public and the National Assembly."

Chairperson Choi also said, "The Local Council Act will serve as a driving force that enables local councils to work vigorously to make residents' daily lives safer and more comfortable," and added, "I will discuss with the chairs of metropolitan and provincial councils to prepare a legislative bill for metropolitan councils and submit it to the National Assembly."

She further emphasized, "Both Korea's and advanced countries' experiences have clearly shown that local autonomy, rather than centralization, is more effective for balanced national development and a better quality of life for the people." She continued, "Together with the chairs of metropolitan and provincial councils, I will pool our wisdom and efforts to ensure that more resources and authority, which are currently concentrated in the central government, can be allocated to local governments, and I will work diligently to make this happen."

As president of the council, Choi will serve as a central figure in gathering the opinions of the chairs of the 17 metropolitan and provincial councils and leading mutual exchanges regarding the development of local autonomy and the operation of local councils. In addition, she will participate in the Central-Local Cooperation Council (chaired by the President) alongside the presidents of the National Association of Governors, the National Association of Mayors, County Governors and District Heads, and the National Association of Chairs of City, County, and District Councils, where they will discuss the distribution of authority and resources between the central government and local governments.

The Korea Council of Chairs of Metropolitan and Provincial Councils is a statutory body based on the Local Autonomy Act, carrying out joint activities to promote cooperation among metropolitan and provincial councils nationwide, advance local autonomy, and improve related systems.

President Choi is a three-term member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (8th, 9th, and 11th terms), having previously served as Chair of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee and as the representative council member of the People Power Party. She is currently serving as the chairperson of the second half of the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council.