Yoon: "Strongly Promote Balanced Development from Next Year... Central and Local Governments as Partners in National Administration"

President Yoon Emphasizes Central-Local Government Cooperation at Luncheon with Provincial Council Chairpersons
Kim Hyun-gi, Seoul City Council Chair, "Provincial Councils Support the Era of Local Autonomy"
Yoon Agrees on Need to Realize Legislative Activity Expenses and Requests for Local Council Basic Act

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol announced on the 22nd, "Starting next year, we will more strongly promote balanced regional development."

On the same day, President Yoon held a luncheon meeting with the executives of the Korea Council of Local Assembly Chairs to discuss local council issues. According to a written briefing by Lee Jae-myung, deputy spokesperson of the Presidential Office, he said, "Securing national competitiveness is possible when the central and local governments join forces."

The Korea Council of Local Assembly Chairs is a statutory organization established under Article 165 of the Local Autonomy Act. It was founded to promote mutual exchange and cooperation regarding the development of local autonomy and the operation of local councils, and to discuss common issues.

President Yoon emphasized, "Although the international economy was unstable this year and the Korean economy faced difficulties, the central and local governments cooperated well to respond," adding, "Difficult economic conditions are expected next year as well, but since crisis is an opportunity, if we eliminate inefficiencies that hinder growth and development, we can achieve remarkable growth."

In response, Kim Hyun-ki, chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council and the council president, said, "There can be no division between ruling and opposition parties in carrying out national tasks. Especially regarding the tasks of the local era, the local councils will unite and do their best to support," adding, "During the national task review meeting on the 15th, we confirmed the president’s strong will for the local era and gained great strength."

Chairman Kim proposed the realization of realistic activity expenses for council members and the enactment of the Local Council Basic Act as one of the local council issues.

President Yoon responded, "I agree on the need to realize the activity expenses for council members, which have been frozen for over 20 years since 2003, and to enact the Local Council Basic Act," adding, "We will work with the National Assembly to promote institutional improvements."

At the conclusion of the meeting, President Yoon stated, "Going forward, we plan to discuss local issues and gather opinions through continuous meetings with local councils," urging, "Let us move forward together as partners in national governance by strongly uniting the central and local governments."

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