Seoul Metropolitan Council Urges Enactment of the Local Council Act

Seoul Metropolitan Council Local Autonomy TF to Hold Seminar on Moon Jae-in Government's Decentralization Policy Evaluation on the 19th

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The Seoul Metropolitan Council's Local Autonomy TF (Head, Kim Jeong-tae, Chair of the Steering Committee) held a seminar on the 19th at the 2nd Conference Room of the Seoul Metropolitan Council Members' Hall under the theme of "Evaluation of the Moon Jae-in Government's Local Autonomy Policy and the Achievements and Future Tasks of the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Local Autonomy TF."

This seminar, planned to discuss the evaluation of the Moon Jae-in government's local autonomy policy and the tasks of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, was hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Council, organized by the Local Autonomy TF of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, and supported by the Presidential Committee on Autonomy and Decentralization, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Korea Council of Local Governments, the Korea Institute of Local Administration, and the Korean Association for Local Government Studies.

At the seminar, Seo Young-kyo, Chair of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, National Assembly member Jeong Cheong-rae, Kim Soon-eun, Chair of the Autonomy and Decentralization Committee, and Park Gi-gwan, President of the Korean Association for Local Government Studies, attended and gave congratulatory remarks. National Assembly member Lee Hae-sik, Jeon Hyun-hee, Chair of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, and Jeon Hae-cheol, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, sent congratulatory messages via video.

At the opening ceremony, Seo Young-kyo, Chair of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, stated, "The National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee will do its utmost to advance an era of local autonomy where residents are the owners." National Assembly member Jeong Cheong-rae emphasized, "I will devote myself more to legislative activities to establish local autonomy." National Assembly member Lee Hae-sik said, "I will do my best to ensure that the Local Council Act passes the plenary session of the National Assembly."

Jeon Hae-cheol, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, "We will actively support local councils to firmly establish themselves as capable representative bodies that breathe closer with residents."

Jeon Hyun-hee, Chair of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, said, "I hope the Seoul Metropolitan Council sets an example so that clean and transparent council cultures take root in all local councils nationwide."

Kim Soon-eun, Chair of the Autonomy and Decentralization Committee, expressed, "I look forward to meaningful discussions actively taking place for the new 30 years of councils."

At the Seoul Metropolitan Council, Chair Kim In-ho, Vice Chair Kim Ki-duk, and other council members attended. Chair Kim In-ho said in his opening remarks, "Today's seminar will be an opportunity for our council to check whether we are well prepared for the upcoming institutional changes, and also to review the long-standing tasks of local councils that were not reflected in the previous amendments and prepare additional legislation and amendments."

The seminar, conducted in two parts, included not only Seoul council members but also public officials, academic experts, media, and citizens as panelists. The first part, themed "Evaluation of the Moon Jae-in Government's Local Autonomy Policy," featured a heated discussion chaired by Park Gi-gwan, President of the Korean Association for Local Government Studies. So Soon-chang, Vice Chair of the Autonomy and Decentralization Committee, presented the Moon Jae-in government's key achievements in local autonomy, including "complete revision of the Local Autonomy Act," "introduction of the autonomous police system," "implementation of the pre-consultation system for local autonomy," "promotion of fiscal decentralization," "enactment of the Local Transfer Act," "enactment of the Central-Local Cooperation Council Act," "enactment of the Resident Ordinance Proposal Act," "enactment of the Hometown Love Donation Act," and "restructuring of the local administrative system and establishment of a foundation to support mega cities."

Park Seong-ho, Director of the Local Autonomy Division at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, "Local Autonomy 2.0 centers on 'resident-centered local autonomy realization,' 'expansion of local government autonomy,' 'strengthening the capacity of local councils,' and 'enhancing solidarity and cooperation between the state, local governments, and local councils.' The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will provide support suitable for the Local Autonomy 2.0 era."

Go Byeong-guk, Seoul Metropolitan Council member, emphasized, "Although some long-standing tasks of local councils were resolved through the complete revision of the Local Autonomy Act, most of the seven major local autonomy tasks of the Seoul Metropolitan Council remain unresolved, and the enactment of the Local Council Act is absolutely necessary."

Kim Ui-seung, Director of the Planning and Coordination Office of Seoul City, said, "The achievements of Seoul City include follow-up measures for the revision of the Local Autonomy Act, efforts to expand the local fiscal base, preparation for the transfer of affairs, implementation of the autonomous police system, and cooperation with the council. Future tasks include strengthening the financial foundation of decentralization, appropriate compensation for transferred affairs, respecting local government opinions during the transfer process, and urging fundamental improvements to the autonomous police system."

Yoon Soon-cheol, Secretary-General of the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, stated, "The complete revision of the Local Autonomy Act is highly commendable for specifying the principle of 'resident autonomy' in its purpose clause, establishing residents' participation rights, and clarifying 'resident sovereignty.' As a proposal for advancing into the era of local autonomy, related laws should be enacted and amended to strengthen the realization direction of how to achieve local autonomy and further enhance resident participation."

Go Kyung-hoon, Research Fellow at the Korea Institute of Local Administration, said, "Obstacles to local autonomy include the public consciousness and political culture that do not recognize differences in public services or taxes among local governments, as well as a cultural disdain that looks down on local areas. The future direction of local autonomy should involve the transfer of functions by category, allowing services to be received based on the principle of locality, and appropriate allocation of affairs."

The first part was chaired by Park Gi-gwan, President of the Korean Association for Local Government Studies, with presentations by So Soon-chang, Vice Chair of the Autonomy and Decentralization Committee. Panelists included Park Seong-ho, Director of the Local Autonomy Division at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety; Go Byeong-guk, Seoul Metropolitan Council member; Kim Ui-seung, Director of the Planning and Coordination Office of Seoul City; Yoon Soon-cheol, Secretary-General of the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice; and Go Kyung-hoon, Research Fellow at the Korea Institute of Local Administration.

The second part, themed "Achievements and Future Tasks of the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Local Autonomy TF," featured a discussion chaired by Shin Won-chul, former Chair of the Seoul Metropolitan Council and the inaugural head of the Local Autonomy TF.

Kim Jeong-tae, Chair of the Steering Committee and head of the Local Autonomy TF of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, presented, "The Seoul Metropolitan Council's Local Autonomy TF is a product of the failures and frustrations of local councils. The first Local Autonomy TF proposed the seven major local autonomy tasks and the enactment of the Local Council Act. The second Local Autonomy TF launched local autonomy TFs in metropolitan and provincial councils nationwide, allied with civil society organizations, and made self-purification efforts. The third Local Autonomy TF achieved the complete revision of the Local Autonomy Act and made progress in re-promoting the Local Council Act. As a future task for local autonomy in the Seoul Metropolitan Council, it is necessary to strengthen the role as an integrated and coordinating body and establish status through accountability and transparency."

Kim Jong-mu, Seoul Metropolitan Council member, said, "Besides the significant achievements of the complete revision of the Local Autonomy Act and efforts to enact the Local Council Act, the greatest achievement is that local councils have been re-recognized as the main actors of local autonomy. Future tasks must include constitutional amendments for local autonomy, enactment of the Local Council Act, and strengthening of autonomous organizational rights."

Kim Tae-young, Professor of Public Administration at Kyung Hee University, said, "Most of the local council-related contents in the complete revision of the Local Autonomy Act were emphasized and proposed by the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Local Autonomy TF. Future tasks include the enactment of the Local Council Act, diversification of institutional composition, and establishment of special local governments."

Bae Soo-moon, Gyeonggi Provincial Council member, said, "The major achievement of the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Local Autonomy TF is the expansion of the local autonomy TF to all 17 metropolitan councils nationwide and the launch of the national local autonomy TF. Many activities carried out by metropolitan councils in solidarity through the national local autonomy TF contributed to the complete revision of the Local Autonomy Act. Future tasks for the development of local councils include establishing support systems to strengthen local council capacities and enhancing ethics for local council members."

Lee Dong-young, Policy Director of the Korea Council of Local Governments, emphasized, "The Seoul Metropolitan Council's Local Autonomy TF did not limit itself to internal operations but took the lead in reflecting external demands in council operations by strengthening ties with civil society."

Lee Seung-hoon, Secretary-General of the Civil Society Organizations Coalition, expressed, "Through continuous information sharing between the Seoul Metropolitan Council and civil society, the power monitoring function was strengthened, and unnecessary conflicts with Seoul citizens in the policy decision process were preemptively removed. In the future, it is necessary to establish a cross-party council member group for cooperation with civil society within the Seoul Metropolitan Council and to conduct ongoing exchanges and cooperation to maintain a balanced tension and cooperation."

The second part was chaired by Shin Won-chul, former Chair of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, with presentations by Kim Jeong-tae, Chair of the Steering Committee and head of the Local Autonomy TF of the Seoul Metropolitan Council. Panelists included Kim Jong-mu, Seoul Metropolitan Council member; Kim Tae-young, Professor of Public Administration at Kyung Hee University; Bae Soo-moon, Gyeonggi Provincial Council member; Lee Dong-young, Policy Director of the Korea Council of Local Governments; Lee Seung-hoon, Secretary-General of the Civil Society Organizations Coalition; and Kim Jae-joong, Deputy Editor of Kukmin Ilbo.

Kim Jeong-tae, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Local Autonomy TF, said, "I sincerely thank everyone from all walks of life for their affectionate and valuable opinions on local councils through this seminar. The Local Autonomy TF, a product of the failures and frustrations of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, has achieved many results in a short period. Based on the achievements of the Local Autonomy TF so far, the Seoul Metropolitan Council will lead the way in smoothly implementing the revised Local Autonomy Act on January 13 next year and enacting the Local Council Act, continuing the still distant path of establishing the status of local councils."

At the event, the Seoul Metropolitan Council also awarded the "Local Autonomy Grand Prize" to Seo Young-kyo, Chair of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, and National Assembly member Jeong Cheong-rae for their significant contributions to establishing the status of local councils and enacting the Local Council Act.

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