Kim Gil-young, chair of the Urban Planning and Balanced Development Committee of the Seoul Metropolitan Council and a People Power Party lawmaker representing Gangnam District 6, was elected floor leader of the PPP caucus in the 12th Seoul Metropolitan Council on June 25, during an election also held for vice speaker candidates.
Kim served as chair of the Urban Planning and Balanced Development Committee of the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council, where he guided major issues in urban planning, housing policy and balanced city development. He ran a policy-focused committee and put forward effective policy alternatives through reasoned coordination and communication.
Kim focused his legislative work on lifting land transaction permit requirements and pushed for the swift advancement of major urban planning projects, including the development of the International Exchange Complex and Changdong Arena. He also worked to establish a public contribution garden, advance the Namsan gondola project, and promote Seoul's design policies — including the revitalization of Dongdaemun Design Plaza — as well as youth policies, all in step with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's administration and its goal of elevating Seoul into one of the world's top three global cities.
His election reflects deep trust and high expectations among fellow lawmakers, who viewed him as the right person to foster unity within the party and sharpen its policy competitiveness as the 12th Seoul Metropolitan Council prepares to launch in a changed legislative environment.
In his acceptance remarks, Kim said, "I sincerely thank my sunbae and fellow lawmakers for entrusting me with the weighty responsibility of serving as the PPP floor leader. Today's election is not a personal honor — it is a responsibility given to every PPP lawmaker."
He added, "I will strive to be a floor leader who strikes a healthy balance of checks and cooperation — serving as a steadfast partner in support of Mayor Oh Se-hoon's successful administration, while actively collaborating on policies that meet citizens' needs and responsibly calling for improvements where they fall short."
Kim also pledged, "I will be a floor leader who listens to your voices first, moves first, and takes responsibility first."
Citing the Chinese idiom "dongju gongje" — meaning people sharing the same boat and facing the same fate — he said, "Only when all lawmakers trust and stand by one another can we meet the expectations of our citizens. Our unity will become the hope of citizens, and our achievements will become the future of Seoul."
In closing, Kim said, "I will not forget the wishes of the lawmakers who believed in me and made this choice. I will communicate with humility, prove myself through action, and repay your trust with results. Together with all PPP lawmakers, I will repay the expectations of Seoul citizens with tangible outcomes for their better lives and for the advancement of Seoul."
Kim represents Gangnam District 6 and is serving consecutive terms in the 11th and 12th Seoul Metropolitan Councils. He completed doctoral coursework in policy studies at Dongguk University and earned a doctorate in sports management from the graduate school of Korea National Sport University.
He previously served as the PPP's senior floor whip in the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council (first half), as advisory chair of the PPP National Youth Local Lawmakers Council, and as vice chair and spokesperson of the PPP Seoul chapter. Before entering the council, he worked as a senior legislative aide in the National Assembly and served as a Gangnam-gu district council member in the sixth term.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
