Donghwan Lee, Mayor of Goyang, "Economic and Core Competency Strengthening through Securing Autonomy of Special City"

Lee Jae-jun, Mayor of Suwon Special City, Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin Special City, Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, Hong Nam-pyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, and Jeong Myeong-geun, Mayor of Hwaseong Special City (from left), are urging the enactment of a special law to support special cities on the 14th.

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On the 14th, Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, attended the "National Assembly Policy Forum for the Enactment of the Special Act to Support Special Cities" at the National Assembly Library and urged the need to enact a special law to secure practical authority commensurate with the scale of the city.

This forum was co-hosted by 22 members of the National Assembly from five cities (Goyang, Suwon, Yongin, Changwon, Hwaseong), including local district lawmakers Kim Seong-hoe, Han Jun-ho, Lee Ki-heon, and Kim Young-hwan, to discuss the mid- to long-term development and administrative and financial support measures for special cities. Experts from politics, academia, and related institutions gathered in one place to hold a public discussion on securing the legal status and expanding the authority of special cities.

Mayor Lee Dong-hwan of Goyang Special City stated, "More than two and a half years have passed since the launch of special cities following the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act for the first time in 32 years, but the authority held by special cities is still insufficient in many areas."

Mayor Lee emphasized, "In a situation where autonomy and authority appropriate to the scale and status of special cities with populations over 1 million are not granted, there are limitations in promoting local-led economic revitalization and strengthening core competencies through autonomous reform," adding, "The key to the future of special cities lies in the enactment of the Special Act to Support Special Cities."

Currently, special cities are merely an administrative designation referring to large cities with populations over 1 million and still maintain the status of basic local governments. Special cities are raising their voices in unison, stating that legal and institutional support is urgently needed to acquire substantial authority.

In the 22nd National Assembly, three special bills to systematically support special cities have been proposed, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has been conducting a 40-day legislative notice since the 11th on the draft Special Act to Support Special Cities, which includes the establishment of a basic plan for special cities, 19 new special administrative tasks, and grounds for administrative and financial support from central administrative agencies.

The city plans to continue cooperating with four other cities to ensure that the Special Act to Support Special Cities, which citizens ardently desire, is enacted as soon as possible so that special cities can play a leading role in the advanced era of local governance.

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