Kim In-ho, Chair of Seoul Metropolitan Council, "Welcomes National Assembly's Passage of Full Revision of Local Autonomy Act"

Welcoming the Passage of the Local Autonomy Act After 32 Years Addressing Local Council's Long-Standing Issues... Regrets Remain Over the Number and Introduction Timing of Policy Support Specialists

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The full revision bill of the Local Autonomy Act was passed at the National Assembly plenary session on the 9th.

This marks the first full revision of the Local Autonomy Act in 32 years since 1988.

The National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee merged and reviewed the 'Full Revision Bill of the Local Autonomy Act' submitted by the government in July, approved it as the committee's alternative, and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee reviewed it on December 8 and approved it as the committee's alternative.

Regarding this, Kim In-ho, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (Democratic Party, Dongdaemun 3), welcomed the passage, saying, "The passage of this full revision bill of the Local Autonomy Act in the National Assembly is highly significant as it fulfills the long-standing aspiration of local councils. In particular, provisions such as the independence of personnel authority for local councils and the prevention of infringement on autonomous legislative rights by administrative legislation will advance local councils."

He also stated, "As soon as the 21st National Assembly was formed, the bill was selected as a fast-track bill. Local decentralization forces have exerted every effort to revise the Local Autonomy Act, including the full revision bill submitted by the government and various amendments proposed by lawmakers. I thank many who worked hard. However, there is also great regret that the introduction of policy support professional personnel was downgraded compared to the original discussions."

Looking at the revised bill passed by the plenary session, new provisions such as the 'independence of personnel authority' for local councils (Article 103) and prohibition of infringement on autonomous legislative rights by administrative legislation (Article 28, Paragraph 2) were introduced. The 'introduction of policy support professional personnel' was stipulated in the law to be introduced in local councils over two years, within the scope of 'up to half of the number of local council members' in each local council.

Specific operational plans are to be determined by enforcement ordinances.

In particular, the introduction of policy support professional personnel within half the number of council members was not included in the original bill submitted by the government but appeared during the review of the Public Administration and Security Committee's amendment bill. A transitional provision was also set to allow hiring within one-quarter of the number in 2022 and within half the number of council members in 2023.

During this process, the opinions of the Seoul Metropolitan Council and local councils, which requested the passage of the original government bill, were not even mentioned during the National Assembly's review process.

The 'independence of personnel authority for local councils' grants the personnel authority over administrative staff belonging to city/provincial councils, which had been given to the heads of local governments, to the chairpersons of local councils, thereby securing personnel authority for local councils, strengthening autonomy and independence, and enhancing the function of checking and monitoring the executive branch.

The full revision bill of the Local Autonomy Act proposed by the government stipulated the independence of personnel authority only for city/provincial councils, but during the review process of the Public Administration and Security Committee, the scope of introducing independence of personnel authority for local councils was expanded to include 'city, county, and district councils' as requested by the Seoul Metropolitan Council, and the Seoul Metropolitan Council's proposal was accepted and approved.

Also, the prohibition of infringement on autonomous legislative rights by administrative legislation, which the Seoul Metropolitan Council had long demanded, was included in the partial revision bill of the Local Autonomy Act proposed by Representative Jeong Cheong-rae. During the Public Administration and Security Committee, Representative Lee Hae-sik presented the necessity of its introduction, and it was stipulated that contents defined as autonomous legislation cannot be restricted by enforcement ordinances or enforcement rules.

In addition, the revised bill was approved including provisions related to strengthening the responsibility and autonomy of local councils, such as revising the prohibition on concurrent positions for local council members, autonomy in local council operations, mandatory establishment of local council ethics special committees, and establishment of ethics review advisory committees.

Kim In-ho, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (Democratic Party, Dongdaemun 3), said, "Although it did not reach the level of federalism-level decentralization announced by President Moon Jae-in, it is a moving moment that the long-standing tasks demanded by local councils, including the Seoul Metropolitan Council, have been resolved. The passage of this Local Autonomy Act in the National Assembly is the fruit of the sacrifices and efforts of all local decentralization forces who have worked hard to realize local decentralization, and a new start for realizing local decentralization and establishing the status of local councils."

He also pointed out, "Watching the review process of the National Assembly and the government, I deeply felt the deep-rooted distrust and lack of understanding toward local councils. In particular, regarding policy support professional personnel, I once again confirmed the level of perception of the National Assembly and the government toward local councils."

Chairperson Kim In-ho stated, "We will not be satisfied with the passage of this Local Autonomy Act, and will strive to resolve the tasks not included this time among the seven major local decentralization tasks that the Seoul Metropolitan Council has continuously pursued, such as strengthening autonomous organizational rights, autonomy in budget formulation, introduction of personnel hearings, and preparation of standards for the formation and operation of negotiation groups. In particular, we will once again actively work toward the enactment of the Local Council Act."

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