Wanju County Council Member Jeong Jong-yoon: "We Need to Consider the 'Town and Township Chief Resident Recommendation Contest System'"

Published 24 Nov.2021 13:52(KST)

[Wanju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho] Councilor Jeong Jong-yoon of Wanju County Council argued that the ‘Eup/Myeon Chief Resident Recommendation Contest System’ should be actively considered to revitalize resident autonomy.

On the 24th, during the 2nd regular administrative audit of the 264th session of the Wanju County Council, Councilor Jeong stated, “Other regions are implementing the ‘Eup/Myeon Chief Resident Recommendation Contest System’ to realize true local autonomy, encourage active resident participation in county administration, and achieve grassroots resident autonomy by returning authority to the residents as sovereigns.”

According to Councilor Jeong, Nonsan City operates the ‘Eup/Myeon Chief Resident Recommendation Contest System,’ where eup/myeon chiefs are directly recommended and elected by local residents through voting. This system is also implemented in several local governments such as Jeju Island, Sejong City, Suwon City, Gongju City, Pyeongtaek City, and Ulju County.

Additionally, in Seoul’s Gangnam District, retired public officials are appointed as dong chiefs through the ‘Position Contest Citizen Review System,’ and in Seoul’s Geumcheon District and Jeonnam’s Suncheon City, civilians have been appointed as dong or myeon chiefs through open position contests.

In response, Councilor Jeong emphasized, “The system where internal public officials who apply for the eup/myeon chief position are recommended by residents through interviews and voting, and then appointed by the appointing authority, the head of the organization, returns some of the head’s authority to the residents,” adding, “Wanju County should also implement the ‘Eup/Myeon Chief Resident Recommendation Contest System.’”