Kim Du-gwan "Realizing a Balanced Decentralization Nation with the Establishment of a Balanced Decentralization Cabinet Meeting and Strengthening of Autonomous Legislative Power"

Kim Du-kwan Announces 10 Major Pledges for a Balanced Decentralized Nation... Details Pledges for a Balanced Decentralized Nation
"Proposes 'Balanced Decentralized State Council' Equivalent to Cabinet Meeting, Grants Local Governments Autonomous Organizational Authority, Revitalizes Rural and Fishing Communities"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Democratic Party presidential candidate Kim Du-kwan announced on the 11th that he will "establish a 'Balanced Decentralization State Council' equivalent to the Cabinet meeting." He explained that if elected in next year's presidential election, his first national agenda will be to enable ministers and provincial governors to cooperate jointly to realize a practical 'balanced decentralization state.'

On the same day, Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office and announced ten major pledges for a balanced decentralization state containing this content.

Through a press release titled "Kim Du-kwan's Dismantling of the Seoul Republic, Ten Major Pledges for a Balanced Decentralization State," Kim concretized and announced pledges embodying his long-standing philosophy of balanced development and local autonomy.

Kim stated, "To establish a communication and cooperation system between the central and local governments and expand the practical participation of local governments in national affairs, I will newly establish a 'Balanced Decentralization State Council' composed of the president, prime minister, state council members prescribed by law, and heads of local governments, as a presidential deliberative body similar to the current Cabinet meeting." This is also an extension of Kim's advocated 'local federalism.'

He also declared that he will push for legal amendments to strengthen local governments' autonomous legislative powers and allow the enactment of ordinances regarding the types, rates, and collection methods of local taxes within the scope not violating laws to secure independent finances. He added that to ensure the guarantee of autonomous financial rights does not worsen local finances or widen fiscal disparities between regions, he will establish legal grounds for fiscal adjustments between the state and local governments and among local governments themselves. Furthermore, he plans to revitalize agricultural and fishing village communities.

Kim said, "We will integrally expand seven major services?housing, jobs, medical care, education, welfare, culture, transportation, and communication?to create a foundation for youth and baby boomers to return to farming and fishing villages and rural areas, facilitating mutual exchange between urban and rural residents."

Kim also announced contents he has continuously advocated, such as dismantling the Seoul metropolitan area monopoly and transitioning to a five-pole, two-special zone system, expediting the second phase of relocating public institutions to local areas, completing the administrative capital through relocating the National Assembly and the Blue House, and strengthening the cooperation system among public institutions, universities, and enterprises in innovation cities.

Kim emphasized, "Kim Du-kwan's balanced decentralization state is a nation where balanced development and local autonomy are integrated, and the metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas develop in mutual prosperity," adding, "2021 is a critical moment requiring an extraordinary decision for South Korea to move toward a balanced decentralization state."

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