Changwon Mayor Heo Seong-mu Begins Full-Scale Efforts to Secure Special Authority

Recommendation for the Passage of the Second Local Autonomy Transfer Act in the National Assembly This Year

The mayors of the four special cities are recommending the passage of the 2nd Local Autonomy Transfer Act to Kim Soon-eun, Chairperson of the Autonomy and Decentralization Committee, on the 19th.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] On the 19th, Heo Seong-mu, Mayor of Changwon, met with Kim Soon-eun, Chairperson of the Autonomy and Decentralization Committee, and Seo Young-kyo, Chairperson of the Public Administration and Security Committee, to request cooperation for the passage of the 2nd Local Government Transfer Act in the National Assembly.

Mayor Heo, along with Lee Jae-jun, Mayor of Goyang, Yeom Tae-young, Mayor of Suwon, and Oh Woo-seok, 1st Deputy Mayor of Yongin, submitted a joint petition prepared by the four special cities to Kim Soon-eun, Chairperson of the Autonomy and Decentralization Committee, urging that special administrative tasks for metropolitan cities be intensively reflected within the first half of the year.

The four special cities stated in the joint petition, "Under the current provincial (Do)-centered local autonomy system, it is impossible to establish urban development plans that reflect regional characteristics," and added, "This not only deprives opportunities for balanced regional development but also causes harm that ultimately affects the citizens."

Mayor Heo emphasized the necessity of a dedicated organization that can mediate differences between ministries, saying, "There is no government-wide dedicated organization for special cities, so the four special cities face limitations in individually dealing with central ministries and provinces (Do)."

In particular, Mayor Heo said, "Given that all power and population are concentrated in the metropolitan area, the development of special cities is a new path that can lead national balanced development and growth, so I ask for the active cooperation of Chairperson Kim Soon-eun of the Autonomy and Decentralization Committee for the launch of special cities."

Meanwhile, the four special city mayors requested the attendance of Chairperson Kim Soon-eun and Chairperson Seo Young-kyo at the inauguration ceremony of the National Special City Mayors' Council to be held in Changwon on April 16, asking them to join forces in taking the first step toward the launch of special cities.

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