Local Governments Strengthen Autonomous Legislative Powers to Prevent 'Local Extinction'

October 10 Cabinet Meeting, Comprehensive Amendment of 122 Laws
Preventing Local Extinction and Establishing Norms Suited to Reality

On the 10th, a batch of laws was amended to strengthen the legislative autonomy of local governments and enhance local autonomy. The purpose is to allow local governments to independently select, decide, and execute solutions to regional issues, thereby preventing local extinction and enabling autonomous regulation tailored to current realities.

The government announced on the 10th that the Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo approved a batch amendment of 122 laws, including 81 statutes and 41 presidential decrees. Earlier, since January this year, the Ministry of Government Legislation conducted a comprehensive survey of about 780 related laws and regulations and also carried out a nationwide demand survey of local governments to identify laws requiring amendment. Subsequently, on the 27th of last month, President Yoon Suk-yeol presided over the 5th Central-Local Cooperation Meeting, where the 'Plan to Strengthen Legislative Autonomy for Realizing the Local Era' was reported.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is delivering opening remarks at the Cabinet meeting held on the 19th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

The 122 batch amendments approved that day implement the agenda of the Central-Local Cooperation Meeting. To accelerate the amendment process, the Ministry of Government Legislation led the effort to collectively amend multiple laws at once. The 81 statutory amendments will be submitted to the National Assembly after presidential approval, and the 41 presidential decrees, along with 24 prime ministerial and ministerial ordinances, will be promulgated and enforced starting from the 17th.

Lee Wan-gyu, head of the Ministry of Government Legislation, stated, “We will preemptively block laws that restrict legislative autonomy and support the strengthening of legislative capabilities through close cooperation between central and local personnel, focusing on field-oriented approaches.” Lee Cheol-woo, chairman of the Association of Provincial Governors (Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do), who jointly promoted this amendment, said, “I hope that the revision of laws that practically benefit local residents will continue in the future.”

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