Nine-Day Session Through the 10th
Administrative Inquiries and On-Site Inspections Planned
On September 3, Geochang County Council in South Gyeongsang Province announced that it would begin its extraordinary session, starting with the opening of the first plenary session and running for nine days until the 10th.
During the 288th extraordinary session of Geochang County Council, a total of 30 agenda items will be reviewed, including 18 ordinance bills-11 of which were proposed by council members-two budget bills such as the second supplementary budget bill, and 10 general agenda items. The session will also include questions to the county governor and related officials regarding county administration, as well as site visits to major county projects.
At the second plenary session, Assembly members Shin Jungyang and Kim Hyangran will question the county governor and related officials about county administration and current issues. Through detailed responses, they aim to resolve questions that residents have had about county administration and ongoing projects.
Chairman Lee Jaeun emphasized, "This second supplementary budget bill addresses projects directly related to residents' lives and carries the important task of securing funds needed for recovery from heavy rainfall damage and for promoting various pending projects." He added, "The council must carefully review the budget to ensure fiscal soundness and efficiency, so that funds are allocated only where truly necessary, meeting the expectations of our residents."
Meanwhile, before the official start of the plenary session, there were five-minute free speeches by Assembly members Pyo Jusuk, Park Suja, Shin Mijeong, and Kim Hyangran.
The first speaker, Assembly member Pyo Jusuk, pointed out that educational imbalance is worsening due to the concentration of elementary school students in Geochang-eup. "Forty percent of all new students are concentrated at Arim Elementary School, while other schools are facing a sharp decline in new enrollments, putting their existence at risk," she criticized, adding, "This is a result of administrative failures such as delays in school district adjustments and neglect of false address registrations." She strongly urged the executive branch and the education office to establish practical and visible measures, including school district adjustments and stricter enforcement against false address registrations.
Next, Assembly member Park Suja addressed the joint hosting of the 2027 Provincial Sports Festival, pointing out that "our county's sports facilities, such as the second sports town, lack the basic infrastructure needed for official competitions, including parking spaces, and our sports marketing budget is also insufficient compared to neighboring counties." She emphasized the need for an active approach to building basic infrastructure and securing the necessary budget.
The third speaker, Assembly member Shin Mijeong, highlighted the inconvenience faced by residents due to the predominance of premium buses on the Geochang-Daegu West Intercity Bus Terminal route. She noted, "During the morning rush hour, there are no regular buses, so residents are forced to pay higher fares to take premium buses." She proposed alternating operations during peak hours and providing fare support for transportation-vulnerable groups and students.
The final speaker, Assembly member Kim Hyangran, called for the introduction of a Geochang-style educational platform to prepare for the AI era. She stated, "A systematic platform that integrates AI education, literacy, and digital ethics is needed for students, parents, and adults alike," and proposed a step-by-step AI learning program and a plan to link the nationally certified AICE qualification for elementary, middle, high school, university students, and adults. She also emphasized, "If local universities, industries, and the administration cooperate, it will be possible to nurture local talent, create future jobs, and even attract new residents to the area."
Additionally, at the first plenary session, the council adopted a government proposal for the construction of the Geochang Theater Arts Complex, which was sponsored by Assembly member Kim Hongseop. Geochang is widely recognized as a city of theater, consistently promoting the development of theater through its unique assets such as the international theater festival and theater school.
However, the project to build the theater arts complex, which aims to make better use of these assets, is currently at risk of being halted due to a lack of national funding. In response, Geochang County Council adopted a proposal urging the government to provide national support, expressing its commitment to actively promote the development of local theater through the construction of the theater arts complex.
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