Chairman Kim meets with Vice Minister on 28th: Requests for Realistic Local Assembly Activity Expenses, Guarantee of Local Assembly Participation in Local Era Committee, Establishment of Local Assembly Organizational and Budgetary Rights, Strengthening Effectiveness of Policy Support Officer System, Enactment of Basic Local Assembly Act, Expansion of Autonomous Legislative Rights, etc.
[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Kim Hyun-ki, Chairman of the Council of Chairpersons of Local Assemblies of the Republic of Korea (Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council), held a meeting with Han Chang-seop, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, on the 28th to propose policies for the development of local councils.
At the meeting, six executives of the council attended, including Chairman Kim Hyun-ki, Vice Chairman Heo Sik (Chairman of the Incheon Metropolitan Council), Vice Chairman Guk Ju-young (Chairman of the Jeollabuk-do Council), Vice Chairman Kim Ki-hwan (Chairman of the Ulsan Metropolitan Council), Secretary General Kwon Hyuk-yeol (Chairman of the Gangwon-do Council), and Policy Committee Chairman Sang Byung-heon (Chairman of the Sejong Special Self-Governing City Council).
The meeting was arranged at the request of Chairman Kim Hyun-ki with the purpose of seeking active cooperation from the central government to resolve local council issues. Chairman Kim delivered the "Council's Major Policy Proposals" to the Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
The main proposals included: ? Realization of local council members' legislative activity expenses ? Guarantee of local council participation in the Local Era Committee formation ? Establishment of organizational and budgetary authority for local councils ? Strengthening the effectiveness of the policy support officer system ? Enactment of the Local Council Basic Act ? Expansion of autonomous legislative authority, among others.
Chairman Kim Hyun-ki stated at the meeting, "For the success of the Local Era, which is also a national agenda of the current government, guaranteeing the independence and autonomy of local councils is of utmost importance," adding, "To this end, the government must guarantee the organizational and budgetary authority of local councils and promptly enact the foundational Local Council Basic Act."
He particularly emphasized, "It is urgent to realize the legislative activity expenses for local council members, which have been frozen for 19 years, so that local council members can devote themselves to legislative activities for residents and further elevate the level of local councils."
Vice Minister Han Chang-seop, who attended the meeting, pledged that the central government will fulfill its role for the development of local councils and stated that the proposals will be discussed with relevant departments and thoroughly reviewed for implementation.
On November 23, Chairman Kim Hyun-ki also met with Lee Chae-ik, Chairman of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, to propose local council issues. On November 25, he met with Kim Seok-ki, Secretary General of the People Power Party, and Kwon Seong-dong, former floor leader of the People Power Party, to explain local council issues and request improvements, continuing his swift efforts for the success of the Local Era.
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