Gwangju Seo-gu Council Member Im Seonghwa: "Promises Are Kept"

Selected as Excellence Awardee in the Outstanding Ordinance Category
at the 2025 Korea Manifesto Commitment Awards

Im Seonghwa, Member of the Gwangju Seo-gu Council.

Im Seonghwa, a member of the Gwangju Seo-gu Council representing Gwangcheon-dong, Yudeok-dong, Chipyeong-dong, Sangmu 1-dong, and Dongcheon-dong, has been selected as the recipient of the Excellence Award in the “Outstanding Ordinance for Basic Council Members” category at the “Local Council Member Manifesto Commitment Awards” organized by the Korea Manifesto Implementation Headquarters (hereinafter referred to as the Manifesto Headquarters).

This marks Im’s second award, following the first-ever Grand Prize for the Local Council Member Manifesto Commitment Awards received by the Gwangju Seo-gu Council in 2023.

The Manifesto Headquarters places great importance on the consistency between pledges and actions across politics and administration, with responsibility and implementation as its core values.

The “Local Council Member Manifesto Commitment Awards” are held to discover, share, and promote outstanding cases of pledge fulfillment and ordinance enactment activities, as well as exemplary policy cases by local council members.

Im’s “Gwangju Seo-gu Ordinance on Support to Prevent the Inheritance of Debt by Children and Youth” was enacted to prevent the vicious cycle in which children and youth suffer from debt due to the “inheritance of parental debt.” The ordinance stipulates that local governments, as the nearest administrative bodies, will provide free legal representation and cover actual costs for children and youth under the age of 24.

Im is known for her deep practical understanding of welfare and fieldwork, having served as the head of the Youth Counseling and Welfare Center and as secretary-general of the Community Social Security Council.

She is particularly interested in relatively vulnerable groups such as children, youth, and the elderly, as well as in addressing welfare blind spots.

Im stated, “The difficulties faced by children and youth, who should grow up to become the mainstay of future generations, are deeply connected to social and economic changes. I will continue to communicate and reflect on the roles needed to genuinely protect the rights of children and youth.”