Kim In-ho, Chair of Seoul Metropolitan Council, Proposes Legislative Amendment to Normalize Independence of Local Council Personnel Authority

Conveyed opinions on amendments to 4 related laws to Rep. Lee Haesik (Public Administration and Security Committee) and Rep. Kim Youngbae (Legislation and Judiciary Committee)... "Ministry of the Interior and Safety's excessive administrative legislation is a centralizing behavior that undermines local autonomy" criticism

Chairman Kim In-ho (left) and National Assembly Member Lee Hae-sik

Chairman Kim In-ho and National Assembly Member Kim Young-bae

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Kim In-ho, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (Democratic Party, Dongdaemun 3), delivered key legislative amendment proposals related to the independence of personnel authority in local councils to National Assembly members Lee Hae-sik (Democratic Party, Gangdong-eul) of the Administration and Security Committee and Kim Young-bae (Democratic Party, Seongbuk-gap) of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at a seminar titled “The Significance of the 30th Anniversary of the Revival of Local Autonomy and the Direction of Decentralization” held at the Korea Press Center on the 8th.

This seminar was hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Council to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the revival of local councils. National Assembly members Lee Hae-sik and Kim Young-bae congratulated the Seoul Metropolitan Council on its 30th anniversary and shared their reflections on experiencing local politics and conducting legislative activities in the National Assembly.

Chairman Kim In-ho stated, “I sincerely thank National Assembly members Lee Hae-sik and Kim Young-bae for leading the passage of the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act in the National Assembly. However, without amendments to the four laws related to the independence of personnel authority in local councils, true independence cannot be achieved. I hope the two members will ensure that the proposals submitted by the Seoul Metropolitan Council are fully reflected during the National Assembly’s deliberations,” as he handed over the proposals.

The proposals submitted by the Seoul Metropolitan Council concern amendments to four laws related to the independence of personnel authority in local councils: the Local Public Officials Act, the Enforcement Decree of the Local Autonomy Act, the Appointment Decree of Local Public Officials, and the Regulations on Administrative Organizations and Staffing Standards of Local Governments.

Looking into the details of the proposals, the Local Public Officials Act suggests establishing grounds for installing the first and second personnel committees (multiple) of city/provincial councils, introducing a city/provincial council grievance review committee, creating a council personnel category and an integrated promotion list (between metropolitan and basic councils), and supporting personnel administration of city/county/district councils through city/provincial councils.

Regarding the Enforcement Decree of the Local Autonomy Act, the proposals relate to policy support specialists to be introduced in local councils starting next year. Their duties would be “supporting the legislative activities of local council members,” placement would be “fully delegated to ordinances,” and rank and type of public officials would be “Grade 5 or below (metropolitan) general fixed-term or separately appointed local public officials.”

Additionally, the Appointment Decree of Local Public Officials proposes adding provisions for the introduction of a council personnel category and establishing grounds for joint and consigned administration of appointment examinations for the four major local councils. The Regulations on Administrative Organizations and Staffing Standards of Local Governments propose creating Grade 2 and 3 positions in the Seoul Metropolitan Council and revising the number and ranks of professional committee members to enable professional office management.

Chairman Kim In-ho emphasized, “Although the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act has established the legal foundation for the independence of personnel authority in local councils, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is attempting to restrict the autonomy of local council personnel authority through administrative legislation. At this time marking the 30th anniversary of the revival of local autonomy, excessive administrative legislation by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is not only a centralizing behavior that greatly contradicts decentralization but also disregards the legislative authority of the National Assembly. I hope this issue will be thoroughly discussed during the National Assembly’s deliberations,” he said while delivering the proposals and making his appeal.

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