Urgent Call for Enactment of the Amendment to the Special Act on Local Autonomy Decentralization and Regional Balanced Development

Published 12 Jan.2023 15:57(KST)

Kim Hyun-ki, Chairman of the Korea Council of Provincial and Metropolitan Council Chairpersons, and Delegation of the Four Major Local Government Councils Issue Joint Statement

Urging Inclusion of Ex Officio Membership of Four Major Local Government Council Chairpersons in the Local Era Committee

Calling for Prompt Execution of Public Institution Relocation and Support for Moving the Headquarters of the Four Major Local Government Councils to Sejong Autonomous City

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the 12th, Kim Hyun-ki, Chairman of the Korea Council of Provincial and Metropolitan Council Chairpersons (Chairman of Seoul Metropolitan Council), together with the delegation of the Four Major Local Government Councils, issued a joint statement urging the enactment of the amendment to the "Special Act on Local Autonomy Decentralization and Regional Balanced Development" and the relocation of public institutions.

The joint statement was agreed upon by Chairman Kim Hyun-ki, Lee Cheol-woo, Chairman of the Korea Council of Governors (Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do), Jo Jae-gu, Chairman of the Korea Council of Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads (Mayor of Nam-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City), and Choi Bong-hwan, Chairman of the Korea Council of City, County, and District Council Chairpersons (Chairman of Geumjeong-gu Council, Busan).

The delegation of the Four Major Local Government Councils stated, “The ‘Local Era,’ where everyone in Korea enjoys equal opportunities regardless of where they live, is a core national policy goal and a key issue of the Korean era,” and strongly urged the National Assembly and government to promptly enact the amendment to the Special Act on Local Autonomy Decentralization and Regional Balanced Development, which is the legal basis for the ‘Local Era,’ and to accelerate the second phase of public institution relocations.

First, they urged the National Assembly to swiftly review and process the amendment to the Special Act reflecting the following in the general provisions of the Special Act on Local Autonomy Decentralization and Regional Balanced Development: incorporation of constitutional principles; thorough collection of opinions from local governments and residents from the planning stage of the comprehensive Local Era plan; minimization of public contest projects affecting local governments; ex officio participation of the Four Major Local Government Council Chairpersons in the Local Era Committee; appointment of the Minister of the Interior and Safety as the secretary member of the Local Era Committee and as the minister in charge of the Local Era Special Account.

They also urged the government to actively support the prompt execution of the first task of the Local Era policy, which is the relocation of public institutions to local areas, and to support the agreement by the Four Major Local Government Councils to relocate their headquarters to Sejong Autonomous City to accelerate the relocation of public institutions.

The joint statement issued on this day will be delivered to the National Assembly and the government.

Chairman Kim Hyun-ki said, “The Four Major Local Government Councils, including the Council of Provincial and Metropolitan Council Chairpersons, will actively cooperate with the central government’s Local Era policy,” and added, “We hope that the enactment of laws guaranteeing the participation of the Four Major Local Government Councils will be processed promptly to realize livable local areas anywhere in Korea as soon as possible.”

◇ Joint Statement

Urging Enactment of the Amendment to the Special Act on Local Autonomy Decentralization and Regional Balanced Development and the Relocation of Public Institutions

Joint Statement by the Delegation of the Four Major Local Government Councils

The ‘Local Era,’ where everyone in Korea enjoys equal opportunities regardless of where they live, is a core national policy goal and a key issue of the Korean era.

Accordingly, the delegation of the Four Major Local Government Councils strongly urges the National Assembly and government to promptly enact the amendment to the legal basis for the ‘Local Era,’ the Special Act on Local Autonomy Decentralization and Regional Balanced Development, including the following matters, and to accelerate the second phase of public institution relocations.

First, the National Assembly must promptly review and process the amendment to the Special Act reflecting the following in the general provisions of the Special Act on Local Autonomy Decentralization and Regional Balanced Development: incorporation of constitutional principles; thorough collection of opinions from local governments and residents from the planning stage of the Local Era comprehensive plan; minimization of public contest projects affecting local governments; ex officio participation of the Four Major Local Government Council Chairpersons in the Local Era Committee; appointment of the Minister of the Interior and Safety as the secretary member of the Local Era Committee and as the minister in charge of the Local Era Special Account.

Second, the government must promptly execute the first task of the Local Era policy, which is the relocation of public institutions to local areas, and actively support the agreement by the Four Major Local Government Councils to relocate their headquarters to Sejong Autonomous City to accelerate the relocation of public institutions.

January 12, 2023

Chairman of the Korea Council of Governors

Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do

Lee Cheol-woo

Chairman of the Korea Council of Provincial and Metropolitan Council Chairpersons

Chairman of Seoul Metropolitan Council

Kim Hyun-ki

Chairman of the Korea Council of Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads

Mayor of Nam-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City

Jo Jae-gu