Mayor Lee Donghwan of Goyang: "Special Act for Special Cities Will Strengthen Urban Competitiveness"

Goyang City Urges Enactment of the "Special Act on Support for Special Cities"
Citizen Participation Performance at Resident Autonomy Workshop Expresses Hope for Legislation

Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Donghwan) announced on October 31 that it held a citizen participation performance urging the prompt enactment of the "Special Act on Support for Special Cities" at the "2025 Goyang City Resident Autonomy Capacity Building Workshop" held on the 30th at Baekhak Jayuro Resort in Yeoncheon County.

Goyang Special City is conducting a citizen participation performance urging the prompt enactment of the "Special Act on Support for Special Cities" at the "2025 Goyang City Resident Autonomy Capacity Building Workshop" held on the 30th at Baekhak Jayuro Resort in Yeoncheon County. Provided by Goyang Special City

Approximately 400 people, including members of resident autonomy committees from each district and public officials, attended the event. Participants collectively voiced the necessity of enacting the special act to support special cities, expressing their unified hope for the acquisition of substantial authority for special cities and the passage of the special legislation.

Special cities with populations exceeding one million have been handling complex and diverse administrative demands that go beyond the scope of basic local governments.

However, there have been ongoing criticisms that the current Local Autonomy Act only grants the title of "special city" without sufficiently transferring actual authority or providing adequate administrative and financial support.

The city has continuously proposed the enactment of this special act to ensure systematic and integrated support for special cities. Currently, the National Assembly is considering one special act bill submitted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety in December 2024 and eight bills sponsored by assembly members.

Since September, the city has been conducting a citywide petition campaign at the administrative welfare centers of 44 districts to urge the enactment of the special act for supporting special cities. Going forward, it plans to further build public consensus on the necessity of the legislation and to unite citizens' will for its passage.

Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, stated, "If the special act for special cities is implemented, authority in key areas such as urban management plans, metropolitan transportation master plans, and housing policies will be expanded, allowing us to provide customized administrative services for Goyang citizens." He emphasized, "Strengthening urban competitiveness and increasing the budget will bring benefits to more citizens."

He added, "We will do our utmost to ensure the enactment of the special act for special cities so that Goyang Special City can live up to its name and grow into a city where citizens can feel proud."

Meanwhile, the city continues to make various efforts to secure substantial authority for special cities and strengthen local autonomy. It plans to work closely with the government and the National Assembly to expedite the enactment of the pending special act bills and to continue promoting citizen participation campaigns.

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