Changwon Special Mayor Hong Nampyo: "A Special Act Must Be Enacted for Substantial and Comprehensive Authority Transfer"

Gyeonggi-do Yongin City Hall Hosts Korea Special Market Council
Leading a Better Local Era with Dedicated Organization Formation

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam, attended the first regular meeting of the Korea Special City Mayors' Council of the 8th local government at Yongin City Hall.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Song Jong-gu] “A special law containing regulations on support for special cities should be enacted to transfer substantial and comprehensive authority, and based on this, the four special cities will take the lead in creating a sustainable local era.”

Hong Nam-pyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam, made these remarks on the 18th at 4:50 PM while attending the first regular meeting of the 8th term Korea Special Cities Mayors' Council held at Yongin City Hall.

At the regular meeting, Mayor Hong Nam-pyo of Changwon Special City, Mayor Lee Dong-hwan of Goyang Special City, Mayor Lee Jae-jun of Suwon Special City, and Mayor Lee Sang-il of Yongin Special City attended. They elected the representative chairman to lead the second term of the Korea Special Cities Mayors' Council (Mayor Lee Sang-il of Yongin Special City) and discussed key agenda items.

The main agenda items included ways to further solidify the special city system and bring more special privileges and autonomy, such as ▲enactment of a special law for special cities and ▲establishment of a support organization for special cities to coordinate, consult, and communicate among the central government, provinces, and special cities. The mayors of the four special cities agreed that these are essential for the development of special cities.

Since its launch on April 23 last year, the Korea Special Cities Mayors' Council has jointly worked to secure authority befitting 'special cities,' securing special privileges including raising social welfare benefit payment standards and eight core tasks through amendments to the Local Autonomy Act. They have held regular and extraordinary meetings and discussions with members of the National Assembly to address common issues.

Mayor Hong said, “Although we have secured various special privileges needed by citizens after obtaining the special city designation, the current limited procedures requiring individual enactment and amendment of laws must be improved. A special law containing regulations on support for special cities should be enacted to transfer substantial and comprehensive authority, and based on this, the four special cities will take the lead in creating a sustainable local era.”