'A Working Council'
Significantly Enhanced Council Functions and Expertise
Expansion from 3 to 4 Standing Committees
A Total of 209 Ordinance Bills Proposed by Members
4 Council Member Research Groups
International Friendship Exchanges
The Gumi City Council in North Gyeongsang Province concluded all 100 days of its 2025 session schedule with the final plenary session of the 2nd regular meeting on December 17, and unveiled the major achievements of its 9th term’s latter half.
Since the launch of the latter half of the 9th term in July last year, the council, led by Chairman Park Gyosang and comprising 25 members, has actively pursued legislative activities under the banner of innovation and communication.
As a result, the council has not only further strengthened its stature as the representative body of local residents, but has also been recognized for bringing about substantial and positive changes in Gumi City by maintaining a balanced relationship of checks and cooperation with the executive branch.
(Left) Gumi City Council panoramic photo (Right) Gumi City Council plenary session panoramic photo / Photo by Lee Hwan Kim
◆ The latter half of the council focused on substantively implementing the intent of the revised Local Autonomy Act, and made groundbreaking improvements to its policy support system
The council expanded its structure from three standing committees to four by establishing the Culture and Environment Committee, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and increasing the expertise of agenda reviews.
The policy support team was subdivided into three teams, and 12 policy support officers with professional expertise (10 on fixed-term contracts and 2 regular staff) were assigned, providing strong backing for members’ policy development and a wide range of activities.
◆ Legislative activities of the 9th term council members greatly expanded, based on organizational improvements and a systematic support system
The 9th term saw a total of 209 ordinance bills sponsored by council members, more than tripling the 65 bills from the 8th term and setting a new record high.
Furthermore, through extensive data collection and in-depth policy research during the process of enacting and amending ordinances, the council institutionalized citizens’ voices, which has been credited with making tangible contributions to resolving local issues.
◆ Focus on field-oriented legislative activities
In 2025 alone, the council conducted 12 on-site visits and 14 comparative study tours, actively engaging not only within Gumi City but also nationwide to find solutions on the ground, thereby strengthening legislative activities that align with citizens’ perspectives.
In addition, the number of five-minute free speeches representing citizens’ opinions increased to 83, up from 72 in the 8th term, further broadening the council’s role as a communication channel for proposing various policy ideas to the executive branch and promptly reflecting citizens’ demands in municipal administration.
◆ Strengthening council member research groups for issue resolution and policy research by sector
Four research groups in 2023, two in 2024, and four in 2025 were active, and their research outcomes led to a variety of policy proposals and legislative activities. These research groups, serving as think tanks through diverse research and policy activities, have further enhanced the council’s policy development capabilities.
◆ Achievements in strengthening Gumi City’s global capabilities
Since the launch of the latter half of the council in July last year, efforts have been made to expand exchanges with sister cities, particularly in China and Taiwan. Notably, after mutual visits, a friendship and cooperation agreement was officially signed with Changsha, China, in September 2025.
Starting next year, the two cities will embark on full-fledged cooperation in various fields including society, economy, and culture. The council also plans to explore exchange opportunities with other countries, thereby broadening the scope of Gumi City Council’s international exchanges.
Chairman Park Gyosang stated, "Since the independence of personnel authority following the 2022 revision of the Local Autonomy Act, the 9th term council has devoted all efforts to organizational improvements and strengthening legislative capabilities," emphasizing, "All 25 council members will work together to do their utmost and bring the term to a successful close."
He further presented a vision for the future, saying, "Building on these achievements, the 10th term council should ensure that both Gumi City and the council faithfully fulfill their respective roles and establish cooperative governance to advance the development of Gumi."
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