National Association of City and Provincial Council Steering Committee Chairs Urges 'Expansion of Personnel Authority Independence to Basic Councils'

The 3rd National Council of City and Provincial Assembly Chairpersons Demands Revision of the Local Autonomy Act... Cooperation Between Local and Central Governments, Local Assemblies and Executives Needed to Overcome COVID-19 Crisis... Resolution Adopted Urging Japanese Government to Withdraw Fukushima Contaminated Water Discharge Plan

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The Council of Chairpersons of the Operating Committees of City and Provincial Councils Nationwide (Chairman Kim Jeong-tae, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council Operating Committee, Democratic Party of Korea, Yeongdeungpo 2) held its 3rd regular meeting on the 26th at Songdo Convensia in Incheon Metropolitan City. The meeting was attended by chairpersons of the operating committees of the 17 city and provincial councils, Shin Eun-ho, Chairperson of the Incheon Metropolitan Council, Park In-seo, Deputy Mayor for Balanced Development of Incheon Metropolitan City, and Jang Woo-sam, Deputy Superintendent of the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education.

Chairman Kim Jeong-tae, in his opening remarks, said, “As the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases rapidly increases, the sighs of small and medium-sized enterprises, small merchants, and workers who had briefly resumed economic activities are deepening.” He added, “Although everyone is going through difficult times, it would be good if local councils, which are closest to citizens’ lives and represent them, take care of the citizens who are living difficult lives, starting from the lowest and smallest matters one by one.”

He also emphasized, “If local governments, the central government, local councils, and executive bodies unite as one to thoroughly implement quarantine measures, and if the public also provides wholehearted cooperation and support, we will surely overcome the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis.”

He continued, “Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the revival of local autonomy in this country, and before us lies the crucial task of passing the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act in the National Assembly.” He urged, “Over the past three years, our local councils have consistently demanded the independence of personnel authority for local councils and the introduction of professional policy support personnel. Let us, the chairpersons of the operating committees of city and provincial councils nationwide, tighten the reins once again and make our best efforts to ensure these are passed in this National Assembly.”

In the subsequent plenary session, regarding the direction of the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act, it was urged that the independence of personnel authority for local councils should apply not only to city and provincial councils but also to basic councils, and that the number of professional policy support personnel to assist local council members’ legislative activities should be delegated to ordinances rather than presidential decrees. Additionally, a resolution urging the Japanese government to withdraw its plan to discharge contaminated water from Fukushima was adopted.

Established 23 years ago this year, the Council of Chairpersons of the Operating Committees of City and Provincial Councils Nationwide is an organization that discusses common concerns of each city and provincial council and exchanges necessary information for council operations to resolve longstanding issues of local councils and promote the development of local autonomy.

Its members are the chairpersons of the operating committees of the 17 city and provincial councils, and it holds regular meetings once a month.

The regular meeting was held in strict compliance with COVID-19 response guidelines, minimizing the number of attendees, disinfecting the meeting venue, using transparent partitions, checking temperatures, providing hand sanitizers, and requiring mask-wearing.

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