Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, Emphasizes Fiscal Decentralization for Local Autonomy

Attendance at the 10th Special Committee on Local Decentralization Representing National Basic Local Governments

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, attended the '10th Local Decentralization Special Committee' held at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 14th, where he discussed current issues related to local decentralization and future directions.

The Local Decentralization Special Committee is a policy advisory body under the Korea Association of Governors for the purpose of realizing local decentralization and systematically promoting autonomous development tasks.

The 7th committee consists of 22 members, including metropolitan local government heads, local council chairs, representatives of nationwide basic local governments such as Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, as well as figures from academia, the legal profession, and civil society.

On this day, the committee discussed ▲ the progress and future tasks in response to the novel coronavirus infection ▲ legislative promotion related to local decentralization in the 21st National Assembly ▲ promotion and countermeasures for the 2nd phase of fiscal decentralization ▲ introduction of metropolitan-level autonomous police system ▲ reorganization of special local administrative agencies ▲ joint response to the local extinction crisis by the four major local councils.

Additionally, subcommittees for each local decentralization sector were formed to promote various discussions and response activities in the future.

Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, emphasized, “For local decentralization to be achieved, it is necessary first to discuss fiscal decentralization between the central and local governments, and a strategy to promote sustainable fiscal decentralization centered on basic local governments is required.”

He also stated, “If fiscal decentralization grants authority and opportunities to execute to local governments, it will enhance the autonomy and responsibility of local governments, thereby realizing meaningful autonomous decentralization.”