Completed Policy Debate on the Enactment of the Healthy City Act... Bill to Be Proposed in the Second Half of the Year

Published 27 May.2021 16:32(KST)

The Korea Healthy Cities Association (Chairman Kim Young-jong, Mayor of Jongno-gu) held a "Healthy Cities Act Legislation Policy Forum" on the 26th at the Kensington Hotel in Yeouido... Seoul National University Professor Hong Yoon-chul emphasized, "Due to changes in diseases, urban agriculture, and securing green spaces, urban planning must be completely revised to create a safe and healthy living environment, and related laws must be enacted."

Completed Policy Debate on the Enactment of the Healthy City Act... Bill to Be Proposed in the Second Half of the Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] The Korea Healthy Cities Association (Chairman Kim Young-jong, Mayor of Jongno-gu) held a "Healthy Cities Act Enactment Policy Forum" on the 26th at the Kensington Hotel in Yeouido.

This forum was held to publicize the necessity of the Healthy Cities Act to ensure the enactment of the "Healthy Cities Support Act."

Legal grounds are urgently needed to strengthen related projects currently implemented under local government ordinances and to incorporate the concept of health in all policies (Health in All Policies: HiAP) into urban environment creation and all policies.

Since July last year, the association has formed a task force team for the legislation of the Healthy Cities Act, gathering opinions from experts and practitioners to prepare the bill, aiming to present the necessity and direction of the bill for the enactment of the Healthy Cities Act.

The final bill will be completed by reflecting the opinions from this forum and is scheduled to be proposed in the second half of the year.

The event was attended by Chairman Kim Young-jong, Mayor of Jongno-gu, as well as National Assembly members Lee Hae-sik and Shin Hyun-young, Jo In-sung, President of the Korea Health Promotion Institute, and Marco Martuzzi, Director of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific Environmental Health Center, and was broadcast live online to comply with social distancing measures.

Following keynote presentations on the necessity and legislative direction of the Healthy Cities Act by Professor Hong Yoon-chul of Seoul National University College of Medicine and Professor Kang Eun-jung of Soonchunhyang University College of Medical Science, a panel discussion was held chaired by National Assembly member Lee Hae-sik. Panelists included Lee Dong-jin, Mayor of Dobong-gu, Seoul; Lim Taek, Mayor of Dong-gu, Gwangju; Professor Byun Byung-seol of Inha University; Jeon Jong-tae, Director of the Living Space Policy Division at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety; and Ko Hyung-woo, Director of the Health Policy Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, exchanging views on the proper legislative direction.

In particular, Professor Hong Yoon-chul of Seoul National University drew attention with his keynote presentation, stating, “Healthy city projects are mainly under the jurisdiction of health promotion tasks at district health centers, making it difficult to actively conduct policy research and project implementation. Due to changes in diseases, urban agriculture, green space securing, and other urban planning aspects, related laws must be enacted to comprehensively redesign urban planning so that the living environment can be made safe and healthy for residents.”

Meanwhile, the Korea Healthy Cities Association, established in 2006, aims to realize "Health in All Policies" by improving urban health and environment to promote the physical, mental, social, and economic health of residents. Currently, 102 local governments participate as regular members.

Mayor Kim Young-jong stated, “To build sustainable and resilient healthy cities, policies should not only focus on health but also cover various fields such as urban planning, roads, transportation, environment, welfare, and culture. To implement these policies integratively, establishing a legal foundation is essential.”