Lee Jeong-woon, a member of the Gwangju City Council, urged for improvements in various administrative practices during an audit session, addressing issues such as the management of local tax arrears totaling 184.1 billion won, the utilization of public assets, and the transparency of information disclosure reviews.
He emphasized that traditional administrative procedures should not hinder the efficiency of public officials or restrict citizens' rights, calling for substantial reforms and follow-up measures.
During the administrative audit of the Autonomous Decentralization Bureau and the Administrative Finance Bureau held on November 9, Lee focused on key issues including organizational operations, asset management, tax administration, and the information disclosure system.
Lee first examined the adjustment of the morning meeting schedule, which was changed from 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM in November. He sought to confirm whether this change effectively reduced the burden of early arrivals for staff.
While acknowledging the need for administrative stabilization following the integration of city and provincial governance, he pointed out that excessive preparation for meetings could lead to increased workloads for frontline employees.
In response, the Autonomous Decentralization Bureau explained that the morning meetings were held to ensure stability during emergencies but had been adjusted to 8:30 AM this month, with simplified materials and attendance requirements.
Additionally, staff and labor unions have responded positively to these improvements.
Lee urged that once the emergency situation is resolved, the frequency of meetings should be reduced to two or three times a week or held after 9:30 AM for more flexible operations.
The rigidity in managing public assets was also scrutinized. Lee highlighted instances where small public lands adjacent to private properties could not be sold due to area criteria, limiting private utilization.
He suggested that a thorough investigation of public assets with low preservation value or no administrative necessity should be conducted, followed by active sales in accordance with relevant laws and procedures.
Furthermore, he called for pre-evaluations and operational analyses of 41 contracts expiring at the end of this year to prevent administrative gaps.
Jo Seok-hoon, head of the Autonomous Decentralization Bureau, promised to analyze the relevant matters closely and report back.
During the audit of the Administrative Finance Bureau, delays in forming the Intelligent Information Committee and the effectiveness of managing local tax arrears were major issues.
Lee pointed out that despite the establishment of related ordinances, the formation of the committee has been delayed, urging swift action on the follow-up procedures for its establishment and the 2027 implementation plan.
Joo Jae-hee, head of the Administrative Finance Bureau, acknowledged the delay and committed to expediting the relevant processes.
Lee particularly noted the concerning situation of local tax and non-tax arrears amounting to 184.1 billion won, criticizing the reliance on the average collection targets from the past three years.
He argued that realistic collection goals should be set based on a detailed analysis of the payment capabilities of debtors and the actual likelihood of collection, rather than simple arithmetic targets.
He also called for a review of the operations of the 129-member arrears management team, demanding differentiated responses based on the types of arrears.
For low-income debtors, he suggested exploring support measures such as linking them to welfare services, while for high-value and habitual debtors, he emphasized the need for proactive collection methods, including litigation.
In response, Joo stated that they would analyze the collectability of arrears and the status of deferred cases to enhance efficient tax administration.
Lee also raised the need for improvements in the operation of the information disclosure review system.
He pointed out that most information disclosure review items are processed in writing and argued that matters requiring sufficient discussion and examination should be reviewed in face-to-face meetings to enhance effectiveness.
Given that the disclosure of information directly relates to citizens' right to know, he insisted that face-to-face reviews should be the norm and that institutional improvements, including potential ordinance revisions, should be considered as necessary.
Regarding the submission of materials for the administrative audit, he stressed the importance of providing detailed and accurate information so that council members can fully understand the progress and specifics of projects.
Lee Jeong-woon stated, "The administration of Gwangju City must carefully address the increased workloads and communication difficulties faced by employees during the organizational restructuring and integration process. It is essential to ensure practical efficiency and fairness in key administrative tasks such as public asset management and tax arrears collection."
In conclusion, Lee identified the improvement of morning meeting operations, management of public assets, pre-checks of contracted services, restructuring of the arrears collection system, and ensuring transparency in information disclosure reviews as key areas for enhancement. The extent to which the relevant departments implement the proposed improvements during the audit process remains a matter for future evaluation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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