The 2nd Regular Meeting of the National Council of Chairpersons of City and Provincial Assembly Steering Committees Held

Proposal Urging National Assembly Passage of Full Revision of Local Autonomy Act, Council Approval of Supplementary Budget... 30th Anniversary Joint Commemoration of Regional Council Revival, Discovery of Local Decentralization Agenda, Discussion on Activating Local Decentralization TF

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Council of Chairpersons of the Operation Committees of City and Provincial Councils Nationwide (Chairman Kim Jeong-tae, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council Operation Committee, Democratic Party of Korea, Yeongdeungpo 2) held its 2nd regular meeting on the 23rd at the Seoul Metropolitan Council. The meeting was attended by chairpersons of the operation committees from 17 city and provincial councils, Kim In-ho, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, and Kim Young-cheol, Vice Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.

Chairman Kim Jeong-tae, in his welcoming remarks, stated, “Despite the unprecedented disaster situation caused by COVID-19, local governments have fully demonstrated their value,” adding, “The COVID-19 responses implemented by local governments?including Seoul’s emergency disaster living expenses and survival funds for self-employed individuals, Gyeonggi Province’s disaster basic income, and Busan’s emergency livelihood support funds?not only helped revive local residents and economies in crisis but also significantly contributed to driving the central government’s emergency disaster relief funds.”

He further emphasized, “Our country’s effective response to COVID-19 was possible due to the establishment of a national quarantine system, the participation and cooperation of the people, and the proactive efforts of local governments,” and stressed, “Only when the central and local governments cooperate can the welfare, safety, and happiness of citizens be protected.”

Additionally, Chairman Kim urged, “I hope the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act, centered on the independence of personnel authority for local councils and the establishment of specialized policy support personnel promised by President Moon Jae-in, will be passed in the 21st National Assembly. I also hope the revision of the enforcement decree of the Local Finance Act will raise the debt ratio relative to the budget to expand local financial demand necessary for overcoming COVID-19 and revitalizing the regional economy. To this end, I ask all chairpersons of the operation committees of city and provincial councils nationwide to gather their insight and wisdom and engage in passionate activities.”

During the subsequent plenary session, the council adopted a resolution urging the passage of the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act by the National Assembly and approved the council’s supplementary budget. Discussions were held on joint commemorative projects for the 30th anniversary of the revival of metropolitan councils, the discovery of local decentralization agendas, and measures to activate solidarity activities of the Local Decentralization Task Force of the Council of Chairpersons of City and Provincial Councils Nationwide.

Established 23 years ago this year, the council is an organization that discusses matters related to the common interests of city and provincial councils and exchanges information necessary for council operations to resolve longstanding issues of local councils and promote the development of local autonomy.

Its members are the chairpersons of the operation committees of the 17 city and provincial councils, and it holds regular meetings once a month.

The regular meeting was held in strict compliance with COVID-19 response guidelines, minimizing the number of attendees, disinfecting the meeting venue, using transparent partitions, conducting temperature checks, providing hand sanitizers, and requiring mask-wearing.