Seocho District Council Urges Expansion of HPV Vaccinations and Improvement of Care for People with Disabilities at Plenary Session

Seocho District Council in Seoul (Chairman Ko Sunjae) continued its regular session by convening the third plenary session of the 345th regular meeting on December 4. During this session, Assembly members Park Jaehyung, Oh Jihwan, and Kang Yeojeong delivered five-minute speeches.

Jae-hyung Park, Ji-hwan Oh, Yeo-jeong Kang. Provided by Seocho District Council.

Assemblyman Park Jaehyung pointed out that, although HPV infection-a major cause of cervical cancer-can cause cancer in both men and women, the current national cervical cancer vaccine program is limited to females aged 12 to 17 and some low-income women, leaving most adolescents and young adults unprotected. He cited examples from overseas and other local governments, and proposed that Seocho District also expand support for cervical cancer vaccinations.

Assemblyman Oh Jihwan noted that adults with developmental disabilities face a care gap after completing lifelong education center programs, and that high out-of-pocket costs for center services make access difficult. He suggested establishing a continuous care system, including transition preparation before completion, follow-up programs after completion, and subsidies for costs not covered by vouchers.

Assemblywoman Kang Yeojeong criticized the lack of public interest, validity, and sustainability reviews for projects creating spaces dedicated to specific celebrities. She also pointed out that having the district bear the entire cost of construction and operation could amount to preferential support, and emphasized that the Special Budget Committee should thoroughly review the project's validity.

In addition, during the third plenary session, the council handled the following items: ▲ Partial amendment to the ordinance on the establishment and operation of the Senior Culture and Leisure Complex Facility in Seocho District, Seoul ▲ Agreement on the private consignment of the Neutinamu Shelter in Bangbae 4-dong ▲ Ordinance on the operation of safety officers in Seocho District, Seoul.

The council will conduct budget reviews by the Special Budget and Accounts Committee from December 8 to 12. The 2026 budget will be finalized at the fourth plenary session on December 15, marking the conclusion of the last regular session of 2025.