Gyeongju City Changes Appointment Procedure for Lee and Tongjang ... From Village Association Recommendation to Anyone Who Has Lived for 2 Years

"Transparency and Fairness Further Strengthened" ... Effective from the 10th

A panoramic view of Gyeongju City Hall.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Jae-ho] Gyeongju City has significantly revised the 'Lee·Tongjang Appointment System.'

Gyeongju City announced on the 7th that it will implement the fully revised 'Gyeongju City Ri·Tongjang and Banjang Appointment Regulations,' which clearly specify the appointment procedures for Lee·Tongjang, starting from the 10th.

Currently, the appointment of Lee·Tongjang is operated by having the head of the eup, myeon, or dong, who is delegated by the mayor, appoint candidates recommended through elections conducted by resident autonomy organizations such as village councils or residents' associations.

However, some village councils (residents' associations) have imposed strict eligibility restrictions such as residency period limits, continuously raising issues of fairness and equity.

In this regard, Gyeongju City, which began the full revision process of the related regulations last year, received final approval from the Ordinance and Regulation Deliberation Committee and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, and will promulgate and immediately enforce the revised regulations on the 10th.

Once the revised regulations are implemented, any resident registered for more than two years can participate in the open recruitment for Lee·Tongjang and be recommended as a candidate. In particular, regarding the controversial term limits, reappointment is limited to twice, allowing first-term Lee·Tongjang to serve up to three consecutive terms in total.

The announcement period for Lee·Tongjang recruitment has also been made mandatory for at least 10 days, and suspension of duties during the term is allowed depending on the severity of the issue. Additionally, candidate evaluation criteria and interview criteria are standardized in forms to enhance fairness in the appointment process.

Mayor Joo Nak-young said, "We have completely revised the regulations on Lee·Tongjang appointments to ensure the participation of the majority of residents and reflect their opinions," adding, "Through fair and transparent Lee·Tongjang elections, we will strive for Gyeongju's development with a stronger sense of mission and responsibility."

Meanwhile, a total of 652 Lee·Tongjang are active at the forefront of administration in Gyeongju City.

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