President Yuk Dongil: "Decentralization Requires a Shift from Top-Down to Resident-Centered Paradigm"

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The Korea Local Administration Institute (President Yuk Dongil), in collaboration with National Assemblyman Lee Kwanghee (Cheongju Seowon, North Chungcheong Province) and National Assemblyman Choi Hyukjin (Independent, Proportional Representation), successfully held the "30 Years of Decentralization, National Balanced Growth Strategy Seminar" at the first seminar room of the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 21st.

On the 21st, the "30 Years of Decentralization, National Balanced Growth Strategy Seminar" was successfully held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. In the center, on the left is Congressman Choi Hyukjin, and on the right is Yuk Dongil, President of the Korea Local Administration Institute.

This seminar was organized to mark the 30th anniversary of locally elected governments, providing an opportunity to conduct an in-depth assessment of the achievements of decentralization over the past three decades, and to explore policy directions and concrete strategies for future national balanced growth.

The seminar featured three thematic presentations followed by a comprehensive discussion. First, Kim Geonwi, Research Fellow at the Korea Local Administration Institute, delivered a presentation on "Resident-Centered Local Governance Development Plans." Next, Jeon Daewook, Director of the Decentralization and Autonomy System Division at the Korea Local Administration Institute, presented on "Implications of Resident-Centered Inter-Governmental Linkage and Cooperation and the Promotion of the Five Major Regions and Three Special Zones." The third presentation, "Strengthening Fiscal Autonomy for National Balanced Growth," was given by Jeon Seongman, Director of the Local Finance Research Center at the Korea Local Administration Institute.

The expert discussion was moderated by Professor Yoon Taebum of Korea National Open University. Panelists included Park Gwankyu, Director of the Policy Research Center at the Governors Association of Korea; Shin Yuho, Professor at Dankook University; Lee Hyangsu, Professor at Konkuk University; Han Kyunggu, Secretary General of the National Assembly Forum for Regional Balanced Development; and Hong Heekyung, Editorial Writer at Seoul Shinmun. They engaged in a lively debate, offering a range of perspectives on policy directions and strategies for national balanced growth.

Assemblyman Lee Kwanghee emphasized, "It is time to move beyond support from the central government and transition to a 'truly decentralized nation,' where regions independently establish growth strategies, allocate resources, and take responsibility."

Assemblyman Choi Hyukjin stated, "I hope that today's discussions will lead to improvements in the Local Autonomy Act and fiscal systems, ushering in a new era of genuine decentralization where regions grow independently and residents can truly feel the changes."

Additionally, National Assemblyman Park Honggeun (Jungnang-gu, Seoul) attended the seminar and remarked, "I will strive to achieve national unity through participatory and communicative governance."

Yuk Dongil, President of the Korea Local Administration Institute, said, "In this era of resident sovereignty, decentralization and balanced growth require a paradigm shift from a top-down, central government-driven approach to one centered on residents. I hope that today's discussions will serve as an academic turning point to reflect on the past 30 years of local autonomy and as a practical starting point for innovative policies that will shape concrete balanced growth strategies for the next 30 years."

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