Kim Kyunho, Gwangju Seo-gu Council Member, Hopes for a Council Remembered for Taking Responsibility

Five-Minute Speech: "The Words and Actions of Public Officials Define the Dignity of the Council"

Kim Kyunho, a member of the Gwangju Seo-gu Council, stated on December 3 that during his five-minute free speech at the 2nd plenary session of the 336th 2nd regular meeting, held recently ahead of the administrative affairs audit, he emphasized that the words and actions of elected officials serve as the standard for determining the dignity of the council, and delivered a message calling for a heightened sense of responsibility among the council members themselves.

Kim Kyunho, Member of the National Assembly. Provided by Gwangju Seo-gu Council

Assemblyman Kim stressed, "The administrative affairs audit is a democratic procedure that inspects the administration on behalf of the residents' authority, and in this process, the attitude and language of council members are not a matter of personal disposition, but a public act that reflects the dignity of the council."

He further pointed out, "A series of incidents that occurred in the assembly hall last year raised questions about how council members should approach their responsibilities," adding, "This is an issue that the entire council needs to reflect upon."

Assemblyman Kim referred to the investigative authorities' judgment regarding the controversy at the time, explaining, "The reason for the decision not to refer the case for prosecution was not the existence of abusive language, but rather the lack of clarity about who the target was." The investigative authorities stated in their decision, "There is suspicion that the person addressed by the remarks may not have been the public official who was the subject of the inquiry."

Regarding this statement, Assemblyman Kim said, "Public officials, as those in a subordinate position in terms of personnel, evaluation, and relationships, are not in a position to easily say to a council member, 'Those words were directed at me.'"

He continued, "The core issue here is not 'who was the victim,' but rather 'how one intended to take responsibility.'"

He also mentioned that there was a process in which the testimony about the target of the abusive language changed from public official → fellow council member → himself (Kim Kyunho) → 'speaking to oneself,' and stated, "The shifting direction of responsibility is something the council must seriously reflect upon."

Assemblyman Kim remarked, "An audit is not a session to corner public officials, but a process of democratic oversight to examine whether policies are functioning, whether budgets are justified, and whether the voices of residents are reflected in administration." He added, "While the intensity of questioning may be high, the dignity and respect of public officials must always be protected, and the use of language must be grounded in restraint and decorum."

He also referenced Article 95 of the Local Autonomy Act, which states, 'A council member shall not insult others in the plenary session or in a committee,' emphasizing that this is not simply a prohibition, but a statement declaring the standard of qualification for holding this seat.

In conclusion, Assemblyman Kim stated, "The authority of the council must be established by ourselves. The dignity of council members must be maintained by ourselves. I hope this council will be remembered not as a place 'where responsibility existed but no one was held accountable,' but as a 'council that understands and takes responsibility.' In front of the 270,000 residents of Seo-gu, I will apply stricter standards to myself and uphold those standards."