Why Does the Metropolitan Head Appoint the Deputy Governor? Oh Gyuseok, Busan Gijang County Governor, Holds Solo Protest Saying "Return the Deputy Governor Appointment Authority"

Authority of County Governors Specified in the Local Autonomy Act... Call for 'Return of Appointment Rights' to End Malpractices from the Appointed Mayor Era

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Is a 'plant' necessary? Why does Busan City appoint the deputy county governor?

A one-person protest urging the return of the appointment authority of deputy heads of basic local governments to the heads of local governments, calling it a bad custom and practice from the appointed official era, was held in front of Busan City Hall on the 21st.

On that day, using the lunch break, Oh Gyu-seok, the county governor of Gijang, held a protest at 12 noon in front of the citizen plaza of Busan City Hall, demanding the return of the deputy county governor appointment authority.

The current appointment method violates the law because Article 110, Paragraph 4 of the Local Autonomy Act states, "The deputy mayor of a city, deputy county governor of a county, and deputy district head of an autonomous district shall be regarded as general local public officials, with their ranks determined by presidential decree, and appointed by the mayor, county governor, or district head," thereby guaranteeing the appointment authority of deputy heads to the mayor, county governor, or district head.

Governor Oh asserted, "The appointment authority of the deputy county governor is clearly guaranteed as the county governor's right under the Local Autonomy Act. There is no law in the Republic of Korea that allows a metropolitan mayor to appoint a deputy county governor."

He also said, "The appointment authority of deputy heads of basic local governments exercised by metropolitan local government heads is a custom and bad practice carried over from the appointed official era, and Busan City's change and innovation must start by relinquishing this."

He plans to deliver a statement on the appointment authority of deputy heads to the National Association of Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads and propose support and participation.

Since July 23, 2018, Governor Oh has held 65 one-person protests at Busan City Hall and in front of the National Assembly main gate to demand the return of the deputy county governor appointment authority.

He has also requested this 77 times through official documents to Busan City. At a one-on-one meeting with Park Hyung-joon, the mayor of Busan, on May 10, he strongly requested that the appointment authority of the deputy county governor be given to the Gijang county governor.

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