Kim Hyun-gi, Chairman of the Korea Council of Local Assembly Chairs, Leads the Formation and Operation of the ‘Special Committee on Regional Extinction Response’
2nd Extraordinary Meeting of the Korea Council of Local Assembly Chairs in 2023 Held on the 13th
Kim Hyun-gi, Chairman of the Korea Council of Local Assembly Chairs (Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council), has established and is operating a ‘Special Committee on Regional Extinction Response’ within the council to promote joint regional responses amid the deepening population crisis.
The special committee will engage in policy development on issues related to regional extinction and conduct policy research on responses to regional extinction.
The proposal for the formation and operation of this special committee was directly submitted by Chairman Kim Hyun-gi as an agenda item at the 2nd extraordinary meeting of the Korea Council of Local Assembly Chairs held on the 13th.
Chairman Kim stated, “The issue of regional extinction has been raised for a long time, but there has been a lack of joint response efforts. Given that the total fertility rate recorded 0.78 in 2022 and the population naturally decreased by 123,800, indicating an imminent population crisis, we intend to actively respond to regional extinction by forming a special committee within the council, which enables solidarity and cooperation among local governments.”
At the extraordinary meeting, a total of seven agenda items were submitted and approved as originally proposed. The seven agenda items were: a proposal urging the implementation of rural basic income; a proposal for the prompt nationwide promotion of projects to prevent solitary deaths; a proposal to improve the requirements for local government heads’ requests for reconsideration; a proposal urging support for beekeepers affected by damages; a proposal for national government funding support for public transportation operating costs in rural, fishing, and island areas; a proposal urging the enactment of a special law on the creation and promotion of urban convergence special zones; and the establishment of regulations for the Special Committee on Regional Extinction Response.
In his opening remarks, Chairman Kim said, “Due to the rapid rise in living costs, the economic sentiment of ordinary citizens is facing more difficulties than ever before. I hope that our council, which brings together chairpersons of local assemblies nationwide, will gather the capabilities of local assemblies so that the backbone of Korea?the ordinary people and the middle class?can overcome this economic crisis and regain hope.”
He also stated, “To strengthen the role of local assemblies for the revitalization of local autonomy, we will continuously consult with relevant agencies to realize the enactment of the Local Assembly Basic Act and the actualization of assembly activity expenses.”
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