Sigungu Federation Holds Meeting at Baekbeom Kim Gu Memorial Hall

[Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik] The National Federation of City, County, and District Public Officials Labor Unions (Chairman Gong Juseok, hereinafter referred to as the Federation) announced on the 21st that it held a meeting at the Baekbeom Kim Gu Memorial Hall in Seoul on the 20th.

The meeting was attended by Choi Jiseok, Chairman of the Jeollabuk-do Public Officials Labor Union Federation, Park Kyungmin, Chairman of the Jeollanam-do Public Officials Labor Union Federation, Seo Younggyo, Chairperson of the National Assembly's Administrative Safety Committee from the Democratic Party, and Lee Eunju, a member of the Justice Party.

Chairman Gong Juseok stated, “Although 30 years have passed since the local autonomy system was established, I cannot help but lament the fact that unilateral parachute appointments by metropolitan governments, which undermine the essence of local decentralization, still persist,” adding, “The unilateral personnel corruption by metropolitan cities and provinces is a wrongful practice that severely damages the scope of local autonomy rights and must be eradicated.”

He continued, “I hope that the National Assembly will take this opportunity to join efforts to widely inform the public about this wrongful practice and use it as a chance to establish complete local decentralization.”

The Jeonnam and Jeonbuk Federation emphasized, “Despite the current administrative environment where each basic local government demonstrates sufficient capabilities through close cooperation with the central government, the metropolitan governments of Jeonnam and Jeonbuk still engage in unilateral personnel practices under the pretext of personnel exchanges.”

Furthermore, they stated, “This is inconsistent with the current government's inclination toward a fair society, and we clearly say that the adverse effects caused by the sense of deprivation and morale decline among public officials between metropolitan and basic local governments are directly reflected back on those regions.”

They also questioned, “Since the heads of metropolitan and basic local governments in Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do belong to the same political party, which basic city or county government can easily refuse the personnel demands of the metropolitan government head who wields power through intra-party dynamics, budget, and audit authority?”

The Jeonbuk Federation criticized the current Jeollabuk-do governor’s autocratic behavior and lack of communication, stating, “We have repeatedly requested dialogue with the Jeonbuk governor but have been met with silence.”

According to data from the National Federation of City, County, and District Public Officials Labor Unions (as of December last year), excluding deputy heads, there are a total of 17 unilateral personnel transfers of grade 5 or higher officials from Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Gyeonggi-do, and Gangwon-do. Among them, Jeollabuk-do accounted for 8 (47.05%), the highest number.

Jeollanam-do had 5 (29.41%), Gyeonggi-do 2 (11.76%), and Gangwon-do 2 (11.75%). Other metropolitan governments, including Chungnam and Gyeongnam, have recognized the harm of parachute appointments for the past four years and have eliminated interference in personnel rights of cities and counties through labor-management consultations. However, the continued infringement of personnel rights by Jeollabuk-do is an anachronistic administrative act and a very serious issue that undermines the fairness of local autonomy.

In particular, in Jinan-gun, the head of the forestry department has been monopolized by the Jeollabuk-do provincial office to the extent that since its establishment, no affiliated public official has ever had the opportunity for promotion.

Since last year, the Jeonbuk 14 City and County Public Officials Labor Union Council (hereinafter Jeongonghyeop) has been continuously engaging in solidarity struggles to eradicate Jeonbuk-do’s unilateral personnel practices and has held two press conferences in front of the Jeonbuk provincial office.

Members of the National Assembly Seo Younggyo and Lee Eunju expressed strong sympathy with the labor union’s voice, stating that this is a serious administrative practice that undermines fairness and equal opportunity.

They said they are already aware of the Jeollabuk-do governor’s lack of communication through last year’s Jeollabuk-do national audit and plan to form public opinion through policy forums within the National Assembly and review legal and policy alternatives to eradicate this issue.

If necessary, they will work with the labor union on efforts at the National Assembly level, expressing strong agreement with the slogan “Public officials are workers! Citizens!” and promising to ensure the political basic rights of public officials and teachers and to legislate the public officials labor union time-off system (working hours exemption system) to create a labor environment befitting a top 10 advanced country in the world.

Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik sd2481@asiae.co.kr