Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo Emphasizes 'Stronger Local Autonomy and Decentralization'

Speech at the Provincial Council on the 12th... Request for Council Cooperation on Three Key Priority Tasks

Gyeong-su Kim, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, is delivering a speech at the Provincial Assembly.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] Kim Kyung-soo, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, emphasized the need for a strengthened level of local autonomy and decentralization in his speech at the Gyeongnam Provincial Council on the 12th.

Governor Kim reflected on the response process to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), stressing that "the local government is the closest to the residents."

Accordingly, he stated, "For practical local decentralization, the central government must boldly transfer many authorities it still holds to local governments."

He also raised the point that "the personnel authority and organizational authority of local governments should be autonomously decided according to the local situation and circumstances," and "the financial authority of local governments should also be further expanded by raising the statutory rate of local allocation tax and increasing the proportion of local taxes."

Governor Kim also requested cooperation on three major focus tasks: ‘Establishing the foundation for the Dongnam Region Mega City,’ ‘Intensive cultivation of smart talents leading the New Deal,’ and ‘Proactive response to the climate crisis.’

Finally, he concluded his speech, which also served as a New Year greeting to the Provincial Council, by saying, "We will turn the current crisis into an opportunity and create a greater Gyeongnam and a greater future together with 3.4 million residents and the Provincial Council."

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