Central Authority Office Decentralization Promotion Cost 154.9 Billion Won ... Expansion of COVID-19 and Disaster Safety Response

The Committee on Decentralization Resolves the 2nd Comprehensive Local Transfer Promotion Plan

On September 21, Kim Soon-eun, Chairperson of the Committee on Autonomy and Decentralization, announced the results of the 2nd National Intelligence Service, Prosecution, and Police Reform Strategy Meeting at the Government Seoul Office briefing room. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The cost of transferring tasks previously handled by central government ministries to local governments, known as local devolution tasks, has been calculated at a total of 154.9 billion KRW starting January 1 next year. Moving forward, plans are being promoted to also transfer tasks related to infectious diseases such as COVID-19, disaster safety response, and regional balanced New Deal initiatives to local governments.

The Presidential Committee on Autonomy and Decentralization held its 26th plenary session on the 23rd and announced on the 25th that it reviewed and approved the "Plan for Promoting the Transfer of Central Authority to Local Governments," which outlines the activity direction of the 2nd Committee on Autonomy and Decentralization, as well as the "Cost Estimation and Financial Support Plan for Local Devolution Tasks" necessary for the first batch of local task transfers.

The committee plans to enact the "2nd Local Task Transfer Act" by the first half of next year and will promote the transfer of tasks collectively, including 209 tasks previously approved for transfer but not yet transferred, as well as newly proposed tasks such as COVID-19 response and regional balanced New Deal tasks. Furthermore, the committee will review cases where local autonomy is restricted by requiring prior approval from central ministries or procedures such as consultation, reporting, or consent, despite these tasks being defined as autonomous in law, and aims to prepare legislative amendments by April next year.

Along with gathering demands from each local government for the transfer method, the committee will actively introduce a planned transfer approach linked to new environmental changes and regional issues. In particular, it will promote a groundbreaking transfer of authority that enables rapid response to COVID-19, regional economic revitalization, and disaster and safety response functions. Additionally, the committee will actively consider introducing the "Autonomy and Decentralization Special Zone System" to enable customized transfers that grant local governments the authority necessary to establish regional development plans tailored to local circumstances.

The committee also finalized the "Cost Estimation and Financial Support Plan for Local Devolution Tasks" following the enactment of the first Local Task Transfer Act, which transfers 400 national tasks to local governments starting January 2021.

Based on 253 delegated tasks, 51 tasks performed by metropolitan/provincial governments, and 96 newly transferred tasks (excluding 9 tasks changed from national and metropolitan/provincial joint tasks to exclusive metropolitan/provincial tasks), the total cost of transferred tasks was estimated at approximately 154.9 billion KRW, with related personnel requirements calculated at 66.6 full-time equivalents (based on Grade 7, Step 15).

The committee stated that according to the finalized financial support plan, in 2021, the estimated costs will be reflected in the Balanced Development Special Account's block grants to provide necessary funding to related local governments. Furthermore, a new system will be established to ensure stable funding while guaranteeing local governments' discretion and autonomy.

Kim Soon-eun, Chairperson of the Committee on Autonomy and Decentralization, said, "We will promote local task transfers more systematically to expand the practical authority of local governments and enhance the residents' sense of impact. At the same time, we will ensure that there is no negligence in personnel and financial support so that transferred tasks can be carried out smoothly."

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