Kim In-ho, Chair of Seoul Metropolitan Council, Recommends Passage of 'Local Autonomy Act Amendment' to Representative Lee Nak-yeon

Chairman Kim In-ho: "Urgent Need for Effective Revision of Local Autonomy Laws and Prompt Fiscal Decentralization"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The leadership of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (Chairman Kim In-ho) held a luncheon meeting on the 15th in Yeouido with Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Park Kwang-on, Secretary General, to actively propose the passage of the Local Autonomy Act amendment in the current regular National Assembly session, as well as the strengthening of practical fiscal decentralization and other demands from local councils.

At this meeting, Kim In-ho, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, requested the Democratic Party of Korea’s active interest and support to ensure that the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act submitted to the 21st National Assembly is definitely processed within this regular session. He also requested amendments in the direction demanded by local councils, including the introduction of specialized policy support personnel for local councils and the independence of personnel authority.

Specifically, regarding the introduction of specialized policy support personnel for local councils, he requested the reflection of the original government-submitted proposal. He strongly opposed the partial discussion of introducing “half of the number of council members,” stating it is a fragmented idea that does not consider the reality of local council legislative activities at all, and emphasized the necessity of introduction “within the number of council members.”

Additionally, concerning the independence of personnel authority in local councils, he proposed revising the original government-submitted proposal, which limits the scope of introduction to metropolitan and provincial councils, to include all local councils down to the basic councils.

Furthermore, regarding fiscal decentralization, he proposed the prompt promotion of the second phase of fiscal decentralization, improvements in the issuance and management system of local bonds, national government compensation for subway fare loss due to free rides, and national government support for seismic reinforcement of aging facilities, among other practical budgetary and financial measures.

Chairman Kim emphasized, “Behind the honorable achievement of K-quarantine amid the COVID-19 crisis was the role of local governments that proposed creative policies ahead of the central government and swiftly implemented them at the local level.” He added, “Local councils, which understand local conditions well, urgently require enhanced status and authority so that they can practically change residents’ daily lives with policies tailored to regional characteristics.”

Kim Jeong-tae, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council’s Steering Committee (Head of the Local Decentralization Task Force), stressed, “As next year marks the 30th anniversary of local autonomy, timely related law amendments are necessary when the era’s consensus toward decentralization matures, and the inclusion of field demands is essential for effective improvements.” He repeatedly requested party-level efforts and support for realizing local decentralization and establishing the status of local councils.

Attendees at the visit included Kim In-ho, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council; Vice Chairmen Kim Ki-duk and Kim Kwang-su; Steering Committee Chairman Kim Jeong-tae; and Jo Sang-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea.

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