Lee Hyung-sik, Chairman of Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly Special Committee, "Success of Local Decentralization? Must Consider Underprivileged Regions"

Emphasized at the 'Jibangbun-gwon Policy Forum'

Lee Hyung-sik, Chairman of the Special Committee for Decentralization Promotion of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council, attended the ‘2023 Policy Forum on Strengthening Local Decentralization’ held at Andong Grand Hotel on the 5th as a panelist.

Chairman Lee Hyung-sik of the Special Committee on Local Decentralization of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council is speaking at the 'Policy Forum on Strengthening Local Decentralization'.

This forum was organized under the theme of ‘Strengthening Local Decentralization Tailored to Regional Characteristics’ to hear opinions from experts in various fields and to suggest directions and identify tasks for local decentralization that can promote proactive policy implementation by local governments and practical regional development.

The forum was held with about 100 participants including Lee Hyung-sik, Chairman of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council, members of the Council’s Special Committee for Decentralization Promotion, Woo Dong-gi, Chairman of the National Balanced Development Committee, Kim Hak-hong, Vice Governor for Administration, officials from the provincial and city/county governments, and representatives from local decentralization civic groups.

The event began with a keynote speech by Woo Dong-gi, Chairman of the National Balanced Development Committee, followed by a thematic presentation by Professor Ha Hye-su of Kyungpook National University and a policy presentation on strengthening local decentralization by Kim Dong-gi, Director of the Local Era Policy Division of Gyeongbuk Province. Lee Hyung-sik, Chairman, along with various experts, engaged in a heated discussion as panelists on ways to realize a successful local era through autonomous and creative strengthening of local decentralization reflecting regional characteristics.

At the forum, Lee Hyung-sik, Chairman of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council, emphasized, “Since there are significant differences in administrative and financial conditions and environments for local decentralization among local governments, special consideration is needed for regions in disadvantaged situations to successfully strengthen local decentralization.”

He continued, “It is necessary to introduce a balanced development grant system to provide additional support to financially disadvantaged regions, relax the criteria for special cities considering the rapid population decline trend in provincial-level areas, and diversify the composition of institutions reflecting significant differences in area, population size, and financial capacity among local governments.”

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