Suwon, Yongin, Goyang, and Changwon Mayors Request "Substantial Authority for Special Cities"... Petition to Ministry of the Interior and Safety

Lee Jae-jun, Mayor of Suwon (second from right), and four other special city mayors are taking a commemorative photo after delivering their proposals to Lee Sang-min (center), Minister of the Interior and Safety, on the 6th.

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Suwon, Yongin, and Goyang cities in Gyeonggi Province, along with Changwon City in Gyeongnam Province, have requested the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to "provide policy support so that special cities can secure substantial authority."

Suwon City announced that on the 6th, the mayors of the four special cities, including Lee Jae-jun, Mayor of Suwon, held a meeting with Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min and Director of Local Autonomy Policy An Seung-dae, delivering a 'Special City Support Implementation Proposal.'

At the meeting, the mayors of the four regions proposed ▲expanding the composition and revitalizing the operation of the Special City Support Council ▲strengthening the function and enforcement of deliberation and resolution matters of the Local Era Committee's special city support ▲legalizing the transfer of special city affairs through the promotion of the 3rd Local Government Transfer ▲supporting minimum standard personnel increases due to the transfer of special city affairs ▲direct allocation and increase of long-term education personnel for local senior officials, and expanding the scope of targets.

Lee Jae-jun, Mayor of Suwon City, emphasized, "Starting with this meeting, we will actively establish a cooperative system with central government departments to secure practical special city authorities," and added, "We will create special cities that citizens can truly feel."

Meanwhile, with the passage of a bill on the 27th of last month at the National Assembly plenary session, which includes the transfer of authority for 'designation consultation of new technology startup cluster areas,' one of the special city affairs promoted in the 2nd Local Government Transfer, the four special cities have secured a total of nine special city authority rights.

Once the bill is promulgated, the four special cities will be able to directly consult with the Minister of SMEs and Startups without going through the metropolitan autonomous government when designating new technology startup cluster areas at universities or research institutions within their jurisdiction.