The Democratic Party Seoul Chapter Autonomy and Decentralization Committee Adopts Statement Urging Legislation on Local Autonomy Act and Related Decentralization Laws

Lee Seung-ro, Chairman of the Autonomy and Decentralization Committee, Urges Legislation of Autonomy and Decentralization Laws with the Opening of the 21st National Assembly to Strengthen the Roots of Resident Autonomy

The Democratic Party of Korea Seoul Metropolitan Party Autonomy and Decentralization Committee issuing a statement urging the prompt enactment of laws related to local autonomy along with the COVID-19 medical staff support relay 'Thanks Challenge'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The Autonomy and Decentralization Committee of the Seoul Metropolitan Party of the Democratic Party of Korea (Chairman Seung-ro Lee, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu) held its 2nd meeting on the 19th at the Seoul Metropolitan Party's main conference room and unanimously adopted the "Statement Urging the Prompt Legislation of Autonomy and Decentralization-Related Laws for the 21st National Assembly."

Looking into the background of the statement, the government announced a comprehensive plan for autonomy and decentralization, enacted the Local Transfer Act, which had been promoted since the Participatory Government, after 16 years, raised the local consumption tax rate, and achieved progress in fiscal decentralization. However, the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act, which can be considered a core bill for autonomy and decentralization, and the full revision of the Police Act for the implementation of the autonomous police system are expected to be automatically discarded with the end of the 20th National Assembly without proper discussion.

In response, the committee resolved that "just as local governments' creativity and diversity, in relation to COVID-19, harmonized with civil society to make the Republic of Korea a model country in the world, autonomy and decentralization are sources of national competitiveness and growth engines, so the 21st National Assembly should legislate and revise autonomy and decentralization laws immediately upon its opening."

The committee had planned to hold a forum on autonomy and decentralization at the National Assembly Members' Office Building at 2 p.m. on the 19th to support the Moon Jae-in administration's autonomy and decentralization policy promotion. However, due to the resurgence of group COVID-19 infections, the forum will be rescheduled to coincide with the opening of the 21st National Assembly once the situation stabilizes.

Seung-ro Lee, who is also serving as the mayor of Seongbuk-gu in the 7th elected term, established the residents' autonomy association as a leading representative residents' autonomy organization addressing local issues through the strategy of "strengthening residents' autonomy associations through revitalization of subcommittees."

Through this, he earned the nickname "Ambassador of Living Autonomy."

Seung-ro Lee, Chairman of the Autonomy and Decentralization Committee of the Seoul Metropolitan Party of the Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized, "Autonomy and decentralization-related laws must be promptly legislated simultaneously with the opening of the 21st National Assembly so that residents' autonomy can firmly take root."

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