The Gyeongbuk Provincial Council will convene its 357th extraordinary session from August 25 to September 4, launching an 11-day schedule of legislative activities.
During this session, the council will newly appoint 15 members to the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, and will review and handle various agenda items including provincial government questions, the third supplementary budget proposal for Gyeongbuk Province, and a range of ordinances related to public welfare.
At the first plenary session on August 25, three council members-Cha Joo-sik (People Power Party, Gyeongsan), Kim Jin-yeop (People Power Party, Pohang), and Park Sun-ha (People Power Party, Proportional Representation)-will raise questions regarding provincial administration. They will examine current issues and challenges across provincial and educational administration, and propose policy alternatives.
Councilman Cha Joo-sik will ask about the core issues and strategic roadmap for securing national funding for Gyeongbuk in 2026, improvements to the financial sharing structure of the youth monthly rent support program, and measures to enhance interest income from the Gyeongbuk Office of Education fund through better interest rate management.
Councilman Kim Jin-yeop will address the need for comprehensive, government-wide countermeasures to overcome the crisis in Pohang's steel industry, budget issues related to the Yeongilman Bridge, and strategies for preventing and responding to youth drug addiction.
Councilwoman Park Sun-ha will question follow-up measures regarding the temporary permit for the Smart Green Logistics Regulatory Free Zone, the development and strengthening of support policies for the new middle-aged demographic, and urge the prompt advancement of the second phase expansion of the Daegyeong Line.
The second plenary session is scheduled for September 4. Following five-minute free speeches, the council plans to process agenda items reviewed by committees during this session, including the third supplementary budget proposal for Gyeongbuk Province and various ordinances, before adjourning.
Vice Chairman Choi Byung-jun, in his opening remarks, will express deep condolences for the recent passing of the late Assemblyman Lee Hyung-sik and offer words of comfort to his bereaved family. He will then emphasize, "With the APEC Summit just two months away, we must thoroughly prepare and inspect every detail without a single error, and by enacting the 'Special Act on Wildfire Damage,' we should not only rebuild but also innovatively recreate the wildfire-affected areas." He will also urge, "Given the importance of meticulously reviewing the supplementary budget and the heavy responsibilities entrusted to both the council and the executive branch, let us not forget our original commitment to serve the residents of the province."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
