Geochang County Council Opens 296th Extraordinary Session, Reviews Key County Administration Plans for 2027

16 days of council activities from October 21 to November 5
Hearing reports on 2027 major work plans and action plans addressing administrative audit findings
Policy proposals include free rural buses and a native microorganism research project

The Geochang County Council in Gyeongsangnam-do has begun reviewing the 2027 plans for major county administration initiatives and action plans addressing issues raised in the 2026 administrative audit, along with other key council activities, including questions on county administration.

On the 21st, the council held the first plenary session of its 296th extraordinary session and began a 16-day session that will run through November 5.

During the session, the council will hear reports on the 2027 plans for major county administration initiatives and action plans addressing issues raised in the 2026 administrative audit. It will also hold questions on county administration and review ordinance bills and other agenda items.

[Photo courtesy of Geochang County Council] Geochang County Council Chair Pyo Joosook presides over the first plenary session of the 296th extraordinary session on the 21st. Through November 5, the council will hear briefings on the 2027 key county administration work plans and action plans addressing findings from the administrative audit, and review questions on county administration and various agenda items.

The council formed a special committee to hear reports on the 2027 plans for major initiatives and is scheduled to receive related reports over seven days during the session, through November 2.

It also approved a motion, proposed by Kim Mi-young, chair of the Council Steering Committee, to request the attendance of the county governor and relevant officials, establishing the procedure for questions on county administration.

During the work-plan reports, the council will review key policies and plans for new projects under the ninth popularly elected administration, as well as examine the priorities, funding plans, and feasibility of each project.

In particular, it will review the action plans prepared by the executive branch and the follow-up measures for issues raised in the 2026 administrative audit.

At the first plenary session, council members also delivered five-minute speeches on local transportation and agricultural issues.

Assemblywoman Kim Mi-young proposed making rural buses entirely free and piloting tourist shuttle buses to expand transportation access and improve convenience for visitors.

Kim said it was necessary to consider ways to reduce residents' transportation costs and help tourists travel around the area by making rural buses free and operating tourist shuttle buses.

Assemblyman Gu Gyo-cheon proposed a project to research and distribute native microorganisms in Geochang County to address issues arising at agricultural sites, including the disposal of used strawberry growing media, livestock odors, and orchard soil management.

Gu urged the executive branch to develop solutions to local farmers' concerns through research into and use of native microorganisms suited to the region's agricultural environment.

In his opening remarks, Council Chair Pyo Ju-suk said, "This extraordinary session is an opportunity to review the 2027 plans for major initiatives and examine the direction of county administration," and urged council members to "carefully assess the priorities and feasibility of key strategic projects under the ninth popularly elected administration."

He also stressed the need to use questions on county administration to check the progress and identify issues with key policies, and to discuss ways to improve matters affecting residents' lives.

Meanwhile, the Geochang County Council will suspend plenary sessions from the 22nd through November 2 while its standing and special committees hear reports on major work plans and review agenda items.

The council is scheduled to hold its second plenary session on November 3 and continue its agenda, including questions on county administration. The 296th extraordinary session will run through November 5.

This extraordinary session is significant because it reviews the 2027 plans for major initiatives following the launch of the ninth popularly elected administration.

Key points for review include not only the need for new projects and the likelihood of securing funding, but also whether specific improvement plans have been drawn up to address issues raised in the 2026 administrative audit.

In particular, policies proposed by council members, including making rural buses entirely free, operating tourist shuttle buses, and researching native microorganisms, will need to be assessed comprehensively in terms of future budgetary burdens, actual demand, and the effectiveness of the projects.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.