Kim Oksu of Gwangju Seo-gu Council Calls for Improvements in Overseas Training for Local Council Members

"Abolish Council Members' Overseas Training,
and Require Self-Funding If Necessary"

Kim Oksu, a member of the Seo-gu Council in Gwangju, proposed improvement measures regarding the issue of overseas training trips by local council members, which are currently under police investigation, at the Local Council Innovation Forum held on September 9.

Kim Oksu, Gwangju Seo-gu Council Member. Photo by Kim Oksu's Office

The forum, hosted by the Council Innovation Group and held at Jeonil Building 245, was attended by representatives and citizens from Participatory Autonomy 21, Gwangju Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice, Progressive Solidarity, Gwangju Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Gwangju Headquarters of the Public Officials’ Union, as well as members of the Seo-gu, Buk-gu, and Gangjin County councils.

The Council Innovation Group, in its assessment of 34 years of local autonomy, pointed out that the monopoly of certain political parties has led to the disappearance of competition, checks and balances, resulting in political apathy and inadequate responses to local issues. The group also cited 13 cases of corruption involving local council members.

Kim Oksu began her remarks by expressing her deep regret as a member of the council, apologizing for the ongoing misconduct by local council members that has escalated to the point of search and seizure operations.

She stated, "Every year, 4,016 council members and 1,200 related public officials from 243 local councils nationwide spend about 16 billion won of taxpayers' money. However, the essential selection of advanced foreign sites and institutional visits for themed overseas training is difficult, which eventually turns these trips into mere junkets and leads to calls for their abolition. The government should now step in, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s local autonomy department should take on the work that councils cannot handle, ensuring that taxes are used appropriately."

She added, "If this is not the government’s responsibility, I have not participated in such trips for seven years, and it has not affected my legislative activities at all. It would be better to abolish overseas training for local council members, which is inefficient compared to the budget spent, and if necessary, members should pay their own expenses."