"Need for Special City Office Transfer"‥ Goyang City Strives to Secure 'Special City Authority'

Four Special Cities Including Goyang City Urge Amendment of the Local Autonomy Act

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province is making every effort to secure practical authority ahead of the launch of the special city status in January next year.

Goyang City announced on the 5th, "On the 3rd, we attended a meeting between special city mayors, city council chairs, and members of the National Assembly to discuss response measures for securing practical authority for special cities and amendments to the decentralization law to ensure the smooth launch of the special city status on January 13 next year."

Four special cities, including Goyang, proposed adding 16 tasks considered the minimum necessary for citizens upon the launch of the special city status to Article 41 (Special Affairs of Metropolitan Cities with a Population of Over 1 Million) Nos. 8 to 23 of the Local Decentralization Act. These include ▲establishment and operation of special city education and training institutions ▲fostering and supporting local industries, among others.

They also issued a statement urging the transfer of special affairs for the leap forward of local autonomy in Korea and the successful establishment of autonomous models, calling for bold transfer of special city affairs.

In particular, Lee Chun-pyo, the 2nd Deputy Mayor of Goyang City, emphasized, "It is urgent to amend the Local Decentralization Act so that the special city can start with at least minimal affairs next year," adding, "Please work together to gradually expand the scope of the special city and enable citizens of the four special cities to receive broader and greater benefits."

With the launch of the special city status just over 60 days away, the city plans to devote all efforts to securing special city authority during the remaining period.

The meeting was attended by mayors, city council chairs, and district members of the National Assembly from the special cities of Goyang, Suwon, Yongin, and Changwon, who joined forces to secure special city authority.

Meanwhile, since August, the special cities of Goyang, Suwon, Yongin, and Changwon have formed a Special City Support Council chaired by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and after six sessions of discussion and review of the transfer of special affairs, they have sent the results to the relevant ministries and the Local Autonomy Committee.

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