Chairman Byun Jae-woon, Honorary Chairman Oh Joong-suk vow to 'spread policies citizens can feel'

Policy sessions, polling to explore solutions to key issues

Society to evaluate top council work, find best policy cases

Participants of the first policy discussion session of the Seoul Council and Press Research Society pose for a group photo at Meeting Room No. 1 of the Seoul Metropolitan Council Members' Office Building on Thursday. (Yang Jeong-won)
Participants of the first policy discussion session of the Seoul Council and Press Research Society pose for a group photo at Meeting Room No. 1 of the Seoul Metropolitan Council Members' Office Building on Thursday. (Yang Jeong-won)

The Seoul Council and Press Research Society has officially launched. It was established to research major Seoul Metropolitan Government policies and City Council issues and to bring citizens' voices into the policymaking process.

The society held its first policy discussion session at Meeting Room No. 1 of the Seoul Metropolitan Council Members' Office Building on Thursday, marking the start of its activities. The event brought together Founding Chairman Byun Jae-woon, Honorary Chairman Oh Joong-suk, Seoul Metropolitan Council members, journalists, experts from various fields and officials from related institutions.

The society was founded to strengthen policy communication and cooperation among the council, the media and citizens. It also aims to create a forum for discussing major council issues and policy challenges facing Seoul. Its main projects include policy research and polling that reflect citizens' and on-the-ground opinions, along with objective evaluations of council activities. The society will also identify and promote outstanding policy cases and build networks of experts across different fields.

Byun Jae-woon, a former president of Kookmin Ilbo, was named founding chairman. Oh Joong-suk, a Seoul Metropolitan Council member representing Dongdaemun-gu's second constituency for the Democratic Party of Korea, serves as honorary chairman.

The society is built on an operational structure that includes an advisory group, secretariat, secretary and board of directors. It plans to work across a range of fields — policy, planning, legislation, media cooperation, education, public opinion analysis, culture and arts, welfare, and safety.

Going forward, the society will hold regular policy discussion sessions to examine social issues directly tied to citizens' daily lives, including national and Seoul city affairs. It will also seek practical solutions to these issues. Through policy research and polling, it will identify citizens' policy needs. It will also put forward proposals aimed at translating discussion outcomes into policy and regime improvements at the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Metropolitan Council.

The society will also push forward objective, rational evaluations of council activities. It plans to identify and share policies and outstanding council cases that have made a real difference in citizens' lives. It will also establish an awards regime that selects outstanding council activities and policy cases based on policy research findings and public opinion.

Chairman Byun said, "The media should not simply stop at delivering facts and events; it must bring citizens' voices into the public sphere, keep watch over power and policy, and point the way forward for society." He added, "As an open policy platform linking citizens, the council and the media, we will discuss Seoul's major issues and policy challenges together and seek practical alternatives."

Byun also stressed political neutrality and fairness in how the society operates. He said it would examine council issues based on facts, principles and citizens' perspectives, without favoring any particular party or political interest. He added that it would actively publicize policies that work well while offering constructive criticism and practical solutions for those that fall short.

Honorary Chairman Oh said, "Seoul faces complex challenges, including housing, transportation, safety, welfare, education, culture and the environment, as well as the low birth rate, aging, youth issues and regional disparities." He added, "To solve problems that affect citizens' lives, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Metropolitan Council need to pool wisdom together with the media, experts and people on the ground."

He also said he hoped the society would become an open space that puts citizens first, beyond partisan lines and vested interests. He added that the Seoul Metropolitan Council would listen closely to the citizen and on-the-ground voices the society conveys. It would also work to reflect necessary proposals in its council activities and policies.


7toy7@heraldcorp.com