Final Recommendation on Jeju-type Administrative System: 'Si-Gun Basic Local Governments and 3 Administrative Districts'

Administrative System Reform Committee to Announce Alternative Proposal for Jeju-type Administrative System Reform on the 17th

The Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Administrative System Reform Committee (Chairperson Park Kyung-sook) announced on the 17th that it recommended to the Governor of Jeju a Jeju-type administrative system reform alternative consisting of ‘city-county basic local governments and three administrative districts (Dongjeju City, Seojeju City, Seogwipo City).’

Announcement of Alternative Recommendations for Jeju-type Administrative System Reform.
[Photo by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Administrative System Reform Committee]

The recommendation announced by the Administrative System Reform Committee on this day was the result of comprehensive discussions based on academic research on administrative system reform, residents’ listening sessions, public opinion surveys, and deliberative discussions by resident participation groups.

Discussions on administrative system reform are reaching a new turning point following recent amendments to the Jeju Special Act in the National Assembly, which legally allow the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to request a referendum from the governor when reforming the administrative system.

Prior to this, Jeju Province formed the Administrative System Reform Committee on August 30, 2022, consisting of 15 experts from inside and outside the province to provide advice and review on administrative system reform.

The committee made efforts to transparently manage the research projects from a neutral perspective, and especially did its best to ensure that residents’ listening sessions, public opinion surveys, and resident participation groups were operated objectively to promote public discussion on the Jeju-type administrative system.

This public discussion research project for introducing the Jeju-type administrative system was carried out by simultaneously conducting phased academic research and public discussion with residents.

First, academic research was conducted in phases on the performance analysis of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, the necessity of introducing the Jeju-type administrative system, administrative system models, and administrative districts.

Then, the results of academic research at each stage were shared through 48 residents’ listening sessions, 4 public opinion surveys, 3 expert forums, the 2030 Youth Forum, residents’ debates, and deliberative discussions by resident participation groups, listening to residents’ opinions and reflecting them in the research while simultaneously conducting public discussion.

In particular, a resident participation group of 300 people was formed considering the population composition by age, gender, and region, and immediately after the 4th deliberative discussion of the resident participation group on November 26 last year, a survey was conducted selecting the city-county basic local government model and three administrative districts as the Jeju-type administrative system reform alternative.

The committee presented additional recommendations on administrative system reform along with the final recommendation.

It also suggested the need to collect residents’ opinions on the names of administrative districts, consider mid- to long-term plans for establishing government offices, strengthen communication with the provincial council, decide administrative districts after collecting opinions from island and border area residents, strengthen resident autonomy, and take proactive measures for future diversification of institutional composition.

Chairperson Park Kyung-sook said, “The committee judged that residents’ opinions are the most important in discussions on administrative system reform, so we made every effort to listen to residents’ voices as much as possible and reflect them in the alternatives. I deeply thank the residents who provided valuable opinions and participated in the public discussion with great interest and affection for a better future of Jeju over the past one year and five months.”

She added, “I hope that residents’ interest and passion will lead to the Jeju-type administrative system reform, opening a new era of local decentralization and increasing residents’ happiness index.”

Jeju = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won baekok@asiae.co.kr

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