Heo Seong-mu, Chairman of the Special City Mayors Association, Requests the Prime Minister to Grant Substantial Authority to Special Cities as Promised by the President

D-195 Until Official Launch, Full Efforts to Prevent Becoming a Nominal Special City Only in Name

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] On the afternoon of the 2nd, Mayor Heo Seong-mu of Changwon (Chairman of the National Special City Representatives) and the mayors of four major cities with populations exceeding 1 million met with Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum to request support for special authority rights.

On this day, Mayor Heo Seong-mu, along with Mayor Lee Jae-jun of Goyang, Mayor Yeom Tae-young of Suwon, and Mayor Baek Gun-gi of Yongin, visited the Prime Minister's Office at the Government Seoul Complex and had a meeting with Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum.

The four special city mayors urged the prompt enactment of the 2nd Local Government Transfer Act, which reflects the special administrative tasks of large cities.

They also proposed amendments to related laws such as the Enforcement Decree of the Local Autonomy Act and the Local Decentralization Act to grant practical authority for providing administrative services, including raising the standards for social welfare benefits.

Furthermore, they requested the establishment of a dedicated government-wide organization responsible for comprehensive coordination and consultation among the central government, metropolitan governments, and special cities.

Prior to their visit to the Prime Minister's Office, the four special city mayors visited the Presidential Committee on Autonomy and Decentralization and repeatedly urged Chairperson Kim Soon-eun to enact the 2nd Local Government Transfer Act within the year, reflecting the ongoing review of special administrative tasks.

Following the passage of the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act by the National Assembly on December 9 last year, four cities?Changwon, Goyang, Suwon, and Yongin?will officially launch as special cities with populations exceeding 1 million on January 13 next year.

However, concerns have arisen that without subsequent measures such as the enactment and revision of individual laws, these special cities might become nominal only.

Mayor Heo Seong-mu told Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, "With less than 200 days remaining until the launch of the special cities, citizens are deeply concerned that the special cities, which were a presidential campaign promise, might become hollow shells. We earnestly request that substantial authority be granted through function-centered comprehensive powers so that better administrative services can be provided to the citizens."

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