Special City Launch D-21... Changwon Mayor Heo Seong-mu Hustles to Secure Authority

Changwon Mayor Heo Seong-mu (right) is meeting with Koo Yoon-chul, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, to request the establishment of a control tower overseeing special authority under the Prime Minister. [Image source=Changwon City]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] Heo Seong-mu, mayor of Changwon and representative chairman of the National Special City Mayors' Council (Changwon, Suwon, Yongin, Goyang), visited Seoul on the 22nd to request legislative support necessary for the launch of special cities.

Mayor Heo met with Koo Yoon-chul, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, to explain the current status of legislative efforts to secure special authority and emphasized the need for the prompt enactment of the Local Autonomy Act and related individual laws.

He also requested the establishment of a control tower under the Prime Minister’s office to comprehensively coordinate special authority, as difficulties arise in consultation and adjustment due to different ministries and parliamentary committees being responsible for each special task during the legislative process.

Afterwards, he met with Park Jae-ho, Chair of the 1st Subcommittee on Bill Examination of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee, urging the swift passage of the "Partial Amendment to the Local Autonomy Act," which stipulates 16 essential core tasks necessary for the launch of special cities.

Among the 16 core tasks, seven?including the development, management, and operation of port facilities at local government-managed free trade ports?have been decided by the Presidential Committee on Autonomy and Decentralization to be transferred to special cities, while the remaining tasks are awaiting review.

The transferred tasks will be finalized as special city responsibilities through legal amendments. The Local Autonomy Act, under the jurisdiction of the Public Administration and Security Committee, was proposed last November and is currently awaiting examination after being submitted to the committee and subcommittee.

Mayor Heo stated, "We have communicated extensively to prepare for the launch of special cities, which is less than a month away," adding, "Just as we secured welfare benefits equivalent to metropolitan cities, we will continue to strive to secure special authorities that citizens can tangibly experience."

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