Following an MOU with Sejong University's Graduate School of Industry in September, the council signed a second agreement with Kookmin University's Graduate School of Politics on Wednesday — building a broad framework for joint research on AI and real estate issues, as well as specialized education programs in legislation and policy.
The Seocho-gu Council is stepping up its legislative expertise through closer ties with academia.
The council announced it has signed back-to-back MOUs — first with Sejong University's Graduate School of Industry on Sept. 22, and then with Kookmin University's Graduate School of Politics on Wednesday — establishing a formal framework for education and research cooperation.
The agreements were driven by the need to systematically strengthen council members' policy analysis and practical skills in line with an increasingly complex administrative environment and the rapid adoption of advanced technologies such as AI. The goal is to create conditions in which council members and administrative staff can pursue ongoing research and learning, ultimately improving the quality of local legislation and administrative oversight for residents of Seocho-gu.
At the Sept. 22 signing ceremony held at Sejong University, the two institutions agreed to cooperate across future industries and local policy.
They will jointly research key issues facing Seocho-gu — including AI technology and the real estate sector — and co-run tailored professional development programs such as academic conferences and workshops.
At the Wednesday ceremony held in Committee Room No. 1 of the Seocho-gu Council, the council and Kookmin University's Graduate School of Politics pledged cooperation for the advancement of local autonomy. The two sides agreed to lay the institutional groundwork for a master's-level professional education program covering legislative and lawmaking activities, and to exchange advisory input on major local issues and policy initiatives.
Building on these consecutive academic partnerships, the council plans to evolve into a "research-driven council" that goes beyond routine oversight to propose concrete policy alternatives. It intends to combine the hands-on experience accumulated through legislative work with the latest academic theory and research capabilities of the graduate schools, raising the quality of ordinance drafting and budget deliberation.
Seocho-gu Council Speaker Yoo Ji-woong said that in a rapidly changing technological and policy environment, the council must remain committed to learning and building expertise in order to deliver effective local governance. "I hope these consecutive MOUs serve as a solid stepping stone for raising the research and policy capabilities of both council members and staff," he said. He added that the council would continue to engage actively with a wide range of education and research institutions to build a working council that strengthens residents' lives and a Seocho-gu Council that earns public trust.
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