Municipal Administration Q&A Addresses Innovation at the Cultural Foundation and Solutions to Traffic Issues
The Gyeongju City Council (Chairman Lee Donghyeop) concluded all official legislative activities for 2025 with the closing of the 4th plenary session of the 294th 2nd regular meeting on December 19, 2025.
During the session, five-minute free speeches were delivered on key municipal issues such as the climate crisis, senior welfare, and the restoration of historical sites. Council members also raised concerns, made policy suggestions, and received responses from the executive branch.
Choi Jaepil, Chair of the Council Operations Committee, diagnosed that “2025 has been a year when climate disasters became routine,” and criticized the current response system for being focused on post-disaster recovery.
Chairman Choi cited the example of land-based seaweed farming technology in North Jeolla Province and the Ministry of Environment’s cool roof (heat-reflective paint for buildings) project as benchmarks, emphasizing the urgency of developing a Gyeongju-specific climate adaptation model and establishing a comprehensive plan.
Oh Sangdo, Chair of the National Projects and Nuclear Power Special Committee, proposed the creation of “playgrounds for seniors” and the introduction of “smart senior welfare centers” to prepare for an era of super-aging.
Chairman Oh highlighted the need for intergenerational play spaces by referencing cases in Barcelona, Spain, and Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, and called for a major overhaul of welfare center programs to help seniors adapt to the digital age.
Park Gwangho, Chair of the Cultural City Committee, urged the preparation of follow-up measures for the “Silla Royal Capital Core Heritage Restoration Project.”
Chairman Park stated, “The successful hosting of the 2025 APEC Summit has brought global recognition to the necessity of this project,” and requested thorough preparation for the second five-year comprehensive plan, which begins in 2026, to restore the identity of the millennium-old city.
In the subsequent municipal administration Q&A, discussions focused on the operation of the Gyeongju Cultural Foundation and solutions to local traffic congestion.
In response to Chairman Park Gwangho’s questions on innovation at the Cultural Foundation, the city of Gyeongju stated, “We have completed improvements to the compensation system in 2025 and introduced a performance-based personnel system,” adding, “We will further strengthen organizational capabilities by supplementing professional staff and establishing management regulations for consignment and entrusted projects.”
Additionally, in response to Assemblyman Choi Younggi’s inquiry about resolving traffic congestion, the city said, “We are optimizing traffic flow through the construction of an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and real-time signal control,” and announced, “We will implement comprehensive measures such as reorganizing the signal system and establishing an integrated parking platform in line with the completion of the Hwangnam Parking Lot in 2026.”
In his closing remarks, Chairman Lee Donghyeop stated, “I would like to thank my fellow council members and public officials for their efforts to ensure smooth legislative activities throughout the year,” and added, “Building on this year’s achievements, the council will take the lead so that Gyeongju can take another leap forward in the coming Year of the Blue Horse.”
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