An election was recently held to elect the 54th student council of Chungbuk National University for 2022. Moon Ji-hoon, from the Department of Political Science and International Relations, ran as a single candidate to be the president of the student council. He was elected as a president with a margin of 85%. This is quite remarkable since there was a 50.73% turnout for this election. In May, the Chungbuk National University Press conducted a satisfaction survey on the Cross Student Council among students on campus. As a result, of the 315 students surveyed, 32.4% responded with dissatisfaction, and 37.9% of them expressed dissatisfaction with their pledges in the field of communication. Since there was controversy over communication and work-processing skills at the previous CROSS student council, the next Na:Be student council made various pledges to create practical alternatives, emphasizing communication with students. Therefore, CBT reporters interviewed Moon Ji-hoon on his representative pledges, student petition system, and the budget autonomy system.

Q. Many Chungbuk National University students think the biggest problem of the previous student council was communication. In this regard, what is your plan for good communication?

  All student councils think that the most important virtue is communication in terms of student council management. I think that the good work student councils cannot exist without communication. Therefore, rather than waiting for students to approach me, I will approach and communicate with them first. To this end, I have made practical pledges like the use of various SNS platforms, a student petition system, operation of a booth to inform the student council in March and September at the beginning of the semester, and holding a monthly briefing. As a student who has the same worries and concerns, I will manage a student council that looks at, and solves practical problems closely related to daily life from the perspective of students. To this end, I will continue to focus on having excellent communication with the student body.

Q. There was no actual improvement in communication as a result of the past implementation of the student petition system by the student council. In this regard, what is the future plan for student petition system activation and operation? 

  I think that the current CROSS student council’s student petition system stay in place just for dealing with individual complaints. In addition to that, our Na:Be student council aims at making a channel where many students will be able to share opinions, form a bond of sympathy, and make one agreed public opinion like a government petition. Also, we will answer directly to the students after presenting and discussing the agenda that meets the specific standard at the meeting of the Central Steering Committee. I think student petitions will be invigorated if we offer immediate feedback and continue to pay attention to successfully reflecting on the opinions of students.

Q. What is the specific operation plan for the first implementation of the self-contained budget system?

  The budget self-government system is a system that supports student council fees paid by students as expenses for activities planned by the students, so that students who have passed a certain application process can use them independently. Although the specific qualifications for application have not yet been determined, the goal is to promote the rights and interests of Chungbuk National University students among groups of 5 or more students of the University, and only those who have paid the student council fee will be able to apply. We will prepare accurate standards focusing on public interest and feasibility to conduct a fair budget payment review. Also, we are considering ways to support selected organizations with a certain budget or help them execute the budget based on the prepared business plan.

Q. What is the solution to the low payment rate of the total student council fee to be used in the budget autonomous system, and how do you plan to raise the total student council fee to be used in this system?

  I think the student council fee payment rate is an indicator that can gauge students’ interest and participation in student autonomy. Because the previous student council was so engrossed in business that was out of touch with the daily lives of the students, the students turned their backs and I think that this led to a low student council fee payment rate. Therefore, Na:Be will become a student council that solves problems that are closely related to the daily life of students, restore trust and play a role in spreading the positive perception of the student autonomy organization in the student society. Based on this, we strive to solve the low student council fee payment rate, and we will do our best to create an atmosphere in which many students pay the student council fee in the next student society, even if it is not our term.

Q. Please tell us how you feel about being elected, and your aspirations and plans.

   I can’t even begin to express the joy of being elected, but at the same time, I feel a huge responsibility because of an 85% approval rate. We will always strive and work hard to fulfill all our promises so that we can meet the students’ expectations. From the first day in office until the very end of our term, we will do our best to make good on our pledges under the mission to fulfill all pledges and becoming the student council that adds meaning and strength to students’ daily lives.

By Choi Young-eun l duddms8640@cbnu.ac.kr
By Park Su-min l psm0129@cbnu.ac.kr
By Ahn Min-joo l mj40@cbnu.ac.kr