Chairman of the Balanced Development Committee under Moon Jae-in Government, Kim Sa-yeol, "I will step down at the end of August"... Criticizes New Government Policies Including the 'Local Era Committee'

"Policy to Postpone Establishment of Local Era Committee Without Legal Revision"
Also Expressed Critical Stance on Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Police Bureau

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Kim Sa-yeol, who served as the chairman of the National Balanced Development Committee under the Moon Jae-in administration, will step down from his position at the end of August. This comes about four months after the new government took office. Kim was appointed chairman in 2020.

On the 18th, Kim held a press conference where he announced this decision and raised critical voices regarding the Yoon Seok-youl administration's local government policies. He also criticized the proposed establishment of the so-called Local Era Committee, urging to "withhold the installation plan without legal amendments." He pointed out that launching the National Balanced Development Committee and the Autonomy and Decentralization Committee, which operate independently under special laws, is undesirable.

Kim emphasized, "There is no law that allows an enforcement ordinance organization to oversee a special law organization," adding, "The establishment of the new committee violates not only each special law but also Article 7 of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Committees under Administrative Agencies."

He also expressed a critical stance on the newly created Police Bureau under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Kim stated, "It is appropriate for the law to be changed first, followed by amendments to enforcement ordinances, but the opposite situation is regrettable." He proposed that the government and the National Assembly discuss elevating the National Balanced Development Committee from an advisory body to an administrative organization at the deputy prime minister level, granting it real authority and responsibility over regional issues.

Furthermore, he suggested clearly defining the term of the advisory committee chairperson to prevent futile disputes, indirectly criticizing the current administration's personnel system. In particular, Kim added that no responsible official has officially consulted him regarding his position since the new government took office.

Kim stated, "The National Assembly should provide a clear legal interpretation regarding the term of the presidential advisory committee chairperson," and criticized, "There is no consensus, and they are trying to replace people. The level of the political sphere is not high." He added, "It is deeply regrettable that personnel disadvantages were unilaterally communicated to committee staff and pressure was applied indirectly."

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