Opening of the Sejong Era for the Association of Chairpersons of Provincial Councils of the Republic of Korea

The 1st Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils of the Republic of Korea in 2022 to be Held on the 18th... Chairman Kim In-ho "Expecting 2022 to be the Year of 'Recovery' by Mobilizing All Capabilities"

Opening Ceremony

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The 2022 1st Extraordinary Meeting of the Korea Council of Chairs of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils (Chairman Kim In-ho, Chair of the Seoul Metropolitan Council) was held on the 18th at the Government Sejong Convention Center.

At the extraordinary meeting, a report on the operation of the Local Legislative Training Center was received, and opinions from the 17 metropolitan and provincial councils on measures to strengthen local autonomy and decentralization were collected.

During the subsequent agenda review, 14 agenda items, including the jointly raised issues of the metropolitan and provincial councils such as the “Resolution Urging Full Relief for Victims of Unfair Pneumoconiosis Grade Judgments” and the “Resolution Urging the Enactment of the Local Council Act to Strengthen the Independence of Local Councils,” were deliberated and approved.

Chairman Kim In-ho emphasized, “This year marks the official beginning of a new era of local autonomy and decentralization. At this first extraordinary meeting, we will thoroughly share measures to strengthen local autonomy and the operational plans of each local council, and prepare follow-up actions for the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act without delay.” He also stated, “This year, let us focus on the keyword ‘recovery’?recovery of people’s livelihoods, communities, values, education, and care?and unite our capabilities.”

Additionally, the inauguration ceremony for the relocation of the Korea Council of Chairs of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils (Chairman Kim In-ho, Chair of the Seoul Metropolitan Council) to Sejong was held at the council secretariat (Sejong Finance Center Phase 1) on the same day.

The Korea Council of Chairs of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils moved its office from Yeouido, Seoul, to Sejong Finance Center Phase 1 located in Eojin-dong, Sejong City. By starting in Sejong, it is expected to leverage Sejong’s geographical advantages and the characteristics of a city concentrated with political and administrative functions to serve as a central hub for local councils nationwide. Furthermore, with the confirmed construction of the National Assembly Sejong Hall, it is anticipated that the council will maximize its role as a bridge between the National Assembly and local councils.

Chairman Kim In-ho stated, “In the era of Local Autonomy 2.0, we will undertake multifaceted efforts to activate resident participation for local autonomy, expand autonomy and organizational rights including strengthening the roles and functions of local councils, and realize fiscal decentralization through securing independent financial resources and discovering new tax bases. We will also focus on promoting constitutional amendments reflecting the values of national balanced development and local autonomy, and on uniting the will of the residents.”

The inauguration ceremony was held in strict compliance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines, attended by the Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Vice Chairman of the Local Autonomy Committee, the Chair of the Sejong City Council, chairs and operating committee chairs of various metropolitan and provincial councils.

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