Adoption of the 30th Anniversary Declaration of Local Autonomy Revival and Decentralization 2.0

The Council of Local Governments for Decentralization (Chairman Lee Dong-jin, Dobong-gu Mayor) Holds the 1st Regular General Meeting of 2021 on the 24th, Adopts the 'Decentralization 2.0 Declaration'... Commitment to Realizing Decentralization through Strengthened Continuous Solidarity and Cooperation among Local Governments... 2021 Key Projects Agenda ▲ Operation of Decentralization University ▲ Decentralization Research ▲ Hosting the 3rd Decentralization Expo ▲ Regional MBC Joint Cooperation Projects ▲ Adoption of the 30th Anniversary Decentralization Declaration

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The Association of Autonomous Decentralization Local Governments (Chairman Dong-jin Lee, Dobong-gu Mayor) held the 1st regular general meeting of 2021 on the 24th at Conference Room 16 of La Casa Hotel in Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do, with local government member organization heads and related officials from across the country in attendance.

Established on January 22, 2016, as a hub for the decentralization movement, the Association of Autonomous Decentralization Local Governments was founded with the purpose of realizing autonomous decentralization in solidarity with local governments and citizens. Currently, 45 local governments nationwide are members of the association.

The association has focused on the Autonomous Decentralization University project to cultivate local community leaders who will lead autonomous decentralization and to develop educational content on autonomous decentralization. It has also strived to promote autonomous decentralization and build cooperative networks among local governments through the Autonomous Decentralization Expo, which provides a forum for public discourse among local governments, and the operation of the Future Autonomous Decentralization Research Institute.

This general meeting holds special significance as it follows the passage of the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act last year, the first in 32 years, and coincides with the 30th anniversary of the implementation of local autonomy this year.

Starting with the opening remarks by Chairman Dong-jin Lee, Dobong-gu Mayor, the meeting discussed the 2020 project implementation status and audit, as well as the 2021 major project plans. Notably, it adopted the "30th Anniversary of Local Autonomy Revival and Autonomous Decentralization 2.0 Declaration," which includes the spirit of the times and practical provisions of autonomous decentralization, pledging to strengthen solidarity and cooperation among local governments and fulfill their responsibilities for substantive autonomous decentralization.

Meanwhile, in 2021, the association plans programs to expand consensus on autonomous decentralization, including the continued operation of the Autonomous Decentralization University, the 3rd Autonomous Decentralization Expo, and the production and broadcast of ‘Autonomous Decentralization University Special Lectures’ jointly planned with local MBC.

Building on the capabilities accumulated through autonomous decentralization education, expos, and research, the association intends to expand the scope of awareness on autonomous decentralization through this external cooperation project.

Chairman Dong-jin Lee (Dobong-gu Mayor) expressed his aspirations, stating, “Amid the increased necessity for genuine local decentralization and resident autonomy due to COVID-19, basic local governments, which are the foundation of autonomous decentralization, will continue to participate as key actors to enter the era of full Autonomous Decentralization 2.0.”

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