[Post-Corona, Talking about Local Autonomy] Post-Corona, Now It's 'Local Government' <3>

Yongsan-gu Shincheonji Phone Inspection

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] 3. Post-COVID-19, Now It’s ‘Local Governments’ Time

"In light of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), there is a need for models where local governments proactively respond and formulate policies to spread across more areas. This consensus must be more widely conveyed to central ministries and the National Assembly so that localities can be empowered for a safer and better society."

This was stated by Seong-ho Park, Planning Director of the Autonomy and Decentralization Committee, at the ‘COVID-19 Overcoming Local Autonomy Talk Concert’ held last month at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building. The talk concert was organized to share excellent COVID-19 response cases by local governments and discuss the direction of local autonomy in the post-COVID-19 era.

The reason local governments could respond swiftly to COVID-19 was largely due to their frontline roles. Since situations and conditions vary by region, the judgment of local government heads was crucial. The ‘policy imagination’ mentioned by President Moon Jae-in on February 24 when he officially announced the supplementary budget related to COVID-19 shone through local governments.

Seoul Mayor Won-soon Park, who first implemented social distancing; Gyeonggi Province Governor Jae-myung Lee, who forcefully suppressed the Shincheonji facility in Gwacheon to block large-scale additional infections originating from Daegu Shincheonji; and Gyeongnam Province Governor Kyung-soo Kim, who first proposed the ‘disaster basic income payment’ to revitalize the economy depressed by COVID-19, all set precedents. Basic local governments also led the COVID-19 crisis response proactively, such as Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province introducing the ‘Safe Car Screening Clinic’ and Jeonju City in Jeonbuk Province initiating the ‘Good Landlord Movement’ first.

The COVID-19 crisis reaffirmed how important the position of local government heads is. This is the achievement of 30 years of local autonomy experience since its revival in 1991. Now, as we prepare for the post-COVID-19 era, active discussions focusing on securing a practical status for local governments to fulfill their roles must take place.

◇ Election System Reform Subordinate to Political Parties

Decentralization for grassroots democracy realization hinges on strengthening local governments’ responsibilities and securing autonomy. Under the Public Official Election Act, local government heads are connected to local district National Assembly members and political parties. This connection influences not only the nomination application and candidate selection process but also post-election activities. This is why election system reform is necessary alongside establishing an equal relationship between central and local governments.

Modern local elections in Korea began with local council elections in 1952 during the Korean War. President Syngman Rhee, who dreamed of regaining power, used local elections as a card to overcome the National Assembly, which had indirect presidential election rights and was under opposition control. This was born as a political tool unrelated to democratic development.

After many twists and turns, local elections were revived in 1991. The institutional form was established through the direct election of heads by residents in the June 27, 1995 local elections. However, this too was a product of overcoming political deadlock at the time and has limitations. Local elections became a product of central political struggles. On the other hand, local government heads should not act solely for the party that nominated them. Their priority is the promises made to residents for regional development. Experts therefore advocate abolishing the nomination system for local elections.

Discussions on the three-term consecutive limit for local government heads must continue. This system is based on the Local Autonomy Act amendment promulgated on December 20, 1994. Politicians argue it is necessary to prevent autocracy and stagnation in regional development, while local government heads raise their voices against it as a restriction on citizens’ constitutional voting rights. They argue it should be left to voters’ judgment.

In fact, Japan, which has a local autonomy system most similar to Korea’s, does not limit the consecutive terms of local government heads. Germany also has no regulations limiting consecutive terms of local government heads in the local autonomy laws of its 16 states. Rather, to ensure administrative continuity, the terms of local government heads are set longer?5 or 8 years?than those of local council members. European countries like France and the UK, which adopt a cabinet responsibility system in local autonomy, elect local government heads from among local council members, so term limits are not an issue. In cases of corruption or other problems, a recall system is introduced, leaving decisions strictly to residents’ choice and judgment.

Quarantine Activities

◇ Prompt Passage of the Full Revision of the Local Autonomy Act

As experienced during the COVID-19 crisis, the role of local governments working directly on the ground has grown. Nevertheless, under Article 117 of Chapter 8 of the Constitution, they are still referred to as ‘local autonomous entities.’ The current Constitution was amended in 1987 before local autonomy was implemented, and there has been ongoing controversy that it does not reflect the reality 33 years later. Voices have risen again to change ‘local autonomous entities’ to ‘local governments’ through constitutional or legal amendments to reflect their current status.

With the Moon Jae-in administration, which has a strong will for decentralization, discussions on not only the name change but also the relationship between central and local governments reignited. This was addressed in the local decentralization constitutional amendment proposal announced by President Moon in March 2018, but the proposal itself was rejected by the National Assembly. The full revision of the Local Autonomy Act proposed by the government on March 29 last year was also discarded without being submitted as the 20th National Assembly’s last term ended in May.

In response, the four major nationwide local government associations, including the National Association of Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads, and the National Council of Chairpersons of Provincial Councils, condemned the 20th National Assembly for blocking the revision and demanded its prompt passage in the 21st National Assembly.

The full revision of the Local Autonomy Act, reflecting the changed local administrative environment since the launch of elected local autonomy, includes all institutional improvements for local autonomy development such as ▲ realization of resident sovereignty and strengthening of resident autonomy ▲ diversification of local autonomy operations ▲ substantial expansion of autonomy rights and strengthening of accountability.

It has been 30 years since local autonomy was revived in Korea. The COVID-19 crisis confirmed that the role of frontline local governments was as significant as the central government’s command system in preventing the spread of regional infections. From revitalizing local commercial districts to providing customized public support services, preparing for the post-COVID-19 era is also the responsibility of local governments. For local governments to fulfill their roles, reform of the Local Autonomy Act must be achieved as soon as possible.

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