Jung Won-oh, Seongdong District Mayor, Says "Central and Local Governments Must Divide Roles to Prepare for the 'Post-Corona' Era"

Seongdong-gu Mayor Jeong Won-oh Advocates for "Welfare Decentralization" Between Central and Local Governments at the National Mayors, County Heads, and District Heads Council's Welfare Grand Compromise National Assembly Forum on the 9th, Emphasizing the Need to Strengthen Administrative Coordination Functions and Urgent Legal Revisions for Welfare Decentralization

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] "For advancing resident welfare further, 'welfare decentralization' between the central government and local governments is necessary. It is urgent to revise laws for welfare decentralization, including strengthening the administrative coordination function between the central and local governments, which is currently codified in law."

On the 9th, at the discussion forum titled ‘Post-COVID-19 Era Social Welfare Decentralization Measures - Welfare Grand Compromise’ hosted by the National Association of Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads held at the National Assembly, Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong District, argued that proper role-sharing between the central and local governments is essential for the development of a sustainable welfare state.

Mayor Jung has been leading the advocacy for welfare decentralization as the secretary of the Welfare Grand Compromise Special Committee, launched last year by the National Association of Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads.

On this day, Mayor Jung said, "It has been about 1 year and 3 months since we first proposed welfare decentralization between the central and local governments under the name 'Welfare Grand Compromise,' and during that time, over 200 cities, counties, and districts nationwide have joined in agreement. Since a consensus has been formed in many areas, it is time to discuss specifically how to realize it."

He particularly pointed out that while Germany’s recently implemented COVID-19 economic stimulus measures increased the federal government’s financial burden to support basic governments, our government, during this supplementary budget process, rather reduced local government grants, resulting in a lack of smooth consultation between the central and local governments.

He continued, "The administrative coordination function must first be actualized, and concrete legislative efforts such as preparing amendments to the Framework Act on Social Security and the Social Welfare Services Act should follow," urging the need for institutional supplementation.

At this forum, held in line with the opening of the 21st National Assembly and the formation of the Health and Welfare Committee, many lawmakers including Kim Sung-joo, Kim Young-bae, Min Hyung-bae, Ko Young-in, Seo Young-seok, Lee Nak-yeon, Lee Hae-sik, Hong Young-pyo, and Han Jeong-ae, chairperson of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, attended and expressed their intention to unite efforts to promote welfare decentralization.

Lawmaker Lee Nak-yeon said, "Due to the surge in welfare demand, local governments are struggling with welfare tasks alone, and problems such as welfare disparities between local governments have emerged. It is encouraging that a mature discussion on the desirable division of welfare tasks has taken place," adding, "I will also contribute even a small amount of support to you."

Lawmaker Min Hyung-bae also stated, "In the 'post-COVID' era, welfare demand will increase explosively, and the central government alone cannot handle everything," emphasizing, "We must quickly prepare proper welfare decentralization measures from now on, and the National Assembly has the duty to support this institutionally."

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