Sejong City Council Prevails Over Executive Branch in Ordinance Validity Lawsuit

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of City Council
Confirms Legislative Autonomy and Authority of Local Councils
Calls for Cooperation and Respect Between Executive Branch and Council

Sejong City Council Main Assembly Hall.

On August 14, the Supreme Court ruled that the ordinance partially amending the regulations on the operation of Sejong City’s funded and affiliated institutions was lawful, dismissing the nullification lawsuit filed by the executive branch. This verdict comes two years and four months after the lawsuit was initiated.

On the same day, Lim Chaeseong, Speaker of the Sejong City Council, announced that the Supreme Court had sided with the council.

This lawsuit-case number 2023Chu5023-arose when the executive branch exercised its veto power over the ordinance, despite the Speaker promulgating it in accordance with the Local Autonomy Act, leading to a legal dispute over the nullification of the re-passed ordinance on the operation of funded and affiliated institutions.

Speaker Lim stated, "This ruling is significant in that it once again clearly confirms the legitimate authority and legislative autonomy of local councils. As a body representing citizens, we have strived to provide checks and balances on municipal and educational administration, and have enacted and revised ordinances in accordance with the law and due procedures."

He further emphasized that "every step of the process was conducted in an open and democratic manner." He asserted that the executive branch’s legal action constituted a violation of the fundamental principles of local autonomy.

Speaker Lim also addressed the litigation costs incurred during the lawsuit. He said, "Although taxpayers’ money and administrative resources were spent and the process took a long time, there were no tangible outcomes until the final verdict. All that remained was administrative distrust and unnecessary conflict."

He continued, "The executive branch itself created an inefficient situation where a local issue was escalated all the way to the Supreme Court. Going forward, rather than engaging in political strife that wastes taxes, administrative resources, and time, the council and the city administration should join forces to focus on improving citizens’ quality of life and completing the administrative capital." He added, "With this ruling as a turning point, we will work even harder to ensure that the authority of local councils, a key pillar of local autonomy, is respected and that the will of the citizens is fully realized in Sejong City. I also urge the executive branch to humbly accept this outcome and to foster a culture of cooperation and mutual respect with the council."

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