Kim Hyun-gi, Chairman of the Council of Provincial Council Chairpersons, Appointed as Member of the National Assembly Regional Balanced Development Forum

Chairman Kim Hyun-ki: “It is essential for representatives of metropolitan and local councils to participate in the Local Era Committee, actively joining efforts for regional balanced development”

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Kim Hyun-ki, Chairman of the Korea Council of Provincial and Metropolitan Council Chairpersons (Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council), was appointed on the 9th as a member of the “National Assembly Regional Balanced Development Forum” operated by the Balanced Growth Innovation under the jurisdiction of the National Assembly.

At the launch ceremony and policy discussion held at the National Assembly that day, Chairman Kim opened his remarks by urging a shift in perception for regional balanced development, stating, “Form determines perception, and changing the name from ‘Central-Local Cooperation Meeting’ to ‘Local-Central Cooperation Meeting’ would be a true turning point in valuing local regions.”

Chairman Kim said, “Seoul is the capital and central city, but in terms of local autonomy, it is clearly a local area. Seoul will also participate in local decentralization and balanced development,” adding, “As chairman of the National Council of Provincial and Metropolitan Council Chairpersons, I have come to deeply empathize with the previously unfamiliar issue of local extinction and will actively participate in solving this problem going forward.”

Currently, an integrated bill combining the Local Decentralization Act and the Balanced Development Act has been submitted to the National Assembly and is awaiting review and approval.

Chairman Kim emphasized, “It is absolutely necessary for representatives of metropolitan and local councils to participate ex officio in the Local Era Committee, which will be established through the integration of the Local Decentralization Act and the Balanced Development Act,” and stressed, “Since the two main pillars of local autonomy are the executive and legislative bodies working together, I hope the National Assembly will improve this during the review of the integrated bill.”

The National Assembly Regional Balanced Development Forum is a policy cooperation network created to publicize the agenda of national balanced development and to concretize practical policies, involving ruling and opposition lawmakers, heads of central government ministries, and representatives from various regions.

Lawmakers Park Sung-min and Song Jae-ho serve as standing co-chairs, while lawmakers Park Soo-young and Kim Young-bae serve as co-chairs. Regional representative members include Kim Hyun-ki, Chairman of the Korea Council of Provincial and Metropolitan Council Chairpersons; Lee Cheol-woo, Chairman of the Korea Council of Governors (Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do); Jo Jae-gu, Chairman of the Korea Council of Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads (Mayor of Nam-gu, Daegu); and Choi Bong-hwan, Chairman of the Korea Council of City, County, and District Council Chairpersons (Chairman of Geumjeong-gu Council, Busan). Central representative members include Woo Dong-gi, Chairman of the National Balanced Development Committee; Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety; Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Lee Chang-yang, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy; Jung Hwang-geun, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; and Nam Sung-hyun, Administrator of the Korea Forest Service.