Gyeonggi Province and Provincial Council Resume 'Bipartisan Cooperation Committee' After Two Years

The 'Bipartisan Cooperation Committee,' a communication and cooperation body established to facilitate discussions on key livelihood issues between Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Provincial Council, will resume its activities after more than two years.

With the reopening of this cooperation channel-which had been effectively suspended since the launch of the Bipartisan Cooperation Committee in 2023-between Gyeonggi Province and the Provincial Council, it is expected to have a positive impact on the prompt processing of major provincial affairs, ordinances, and budget bills, as well as on revitalizing provincial administration.

On August 13, at Dodamso (the former official residence of the Gyeonggi Governor), Dongyeon Kim, Governor of Gyeonggi Province; JinKyung Kim, Chairperson of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council; Jonghyun Choi, representative of the Democratic Party; and Hyunjong Baek, representative of the People Power Party, held the '2025 Bipartisan Cooperation Committee Agreement Ceremony' and signed a joint agreement outlining these commitments.

In his opening remarks, Governor Dongyeon Kim expressed his gratitude, saying, "Recently, heavy rains caused significant damage in Gapyeong and Pocheon. However, I saw both parties in our Provincial Council join hands and speak with one voice in the recovery efforts. This set a great example that, for the development of our province and its residents, we can work together beyond party lines."

He continued, "The flowers in front of us are sunflowers, and sunflowers are known for turning together in one direction toward the sun. This symbolizes our intention to join forces and move forward together for the development of Gyeonggi Province, the Republic of Korea, and the success of the new administration."

He added, "I am truly pleased that we are resuming the Bipartisan Cooperation Committee today. With the plenary session in September, we have a heavy agenda ahead, including next year's budget review and administrative audits. I am very glad that we are laying the foundation for positive outcomes."

Chairperson JinKyung Kim of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council responded, "Gyeonggi Province is a local government serving 14.2 million residents, and with that comes a great sense of responsibility. I believe that if we successfully lead the Bipartisan Cooperation Committee together, Gyeonggi Province can become a place of better lives and a better tomorrow."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Dongyeon Kim is taking a commemorative photo on the 13th at Dodamso in Suwon with Jin-kyung Kim, Chairperson of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council, and representatives of both parties after agreeing on the operation of the bipartisan cooperation committee. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

According to the joint agreement, the Bipartisan Cooperation Committee will be composed of the Governor of Gyeonggi Province, the Vice Governor for Economic Affairs, the Chief of Cooperation, the Director-General for Planning and Coordination, and the Director-General for Balanced Development from the province, as well as the Chairperson and four members from each party in the Provincial Council (including the party leader, chief deputy, policy committee chair, and chief spokesperson), expanding from the previous 22 members.

Going forward, the Bipartisan Cooperation Committee will discuss and handle major matters related to provincial administration, key ordinances and budget bills, significant social issues, and council policies and strategic projects.

The committee will strive to actively reflect the outcomes of its discussions in the province's budget and policies. When necessary, subcommittees may be established to enhance implementation.

The working-level Bipartisan Cooperation Meeting, which serves as the practical discussion body, will be held in the first week of each month as a rule. The Bipartisan Cooperation Committee itself will meet quarterly, four times a year, and may convene additional meetings as needed in response to urgent policy matters.

The Bipartisan Cooperation Committee, which first launched as the 'Bipartisan Cooperation Council' in November 2022 during the eighth popularly elected administration of Gyeonggi Province, is the province's flagship cooperation body. It was established to develop policies that benefit residents through communication and cooperation between the province and the Provincial Council.

However, after the council was reorganized and expanded into the Bipartisan Cooperation Committee in 2023, it failed to deliver tangible results due to various internal and external factors, and its activities stalled.

Meanwhile, following the agreement ceremony, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs Youngin Ko, Chief of Cooperation Yongjin Park, and the representatives of both parties held an unveiling ceremony for the Bipartisan Cooperation Committee office at 2 p.m. that day.

The office is located on the 12th floor of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council building. This reflects the intention of both party delegations to facilitate constant communication among working-level staff.