Finally, the Local Council Act Bill Submitted to the National Assembly

On the 19th, National Assembly Member Park Seong-min Introduced the 'Local Council Act (Bill)' as Lead Sponsor... Legal Framework for Local Council Organization and Operation
Chairman Kim Hyun-gi's Persistent Efforts Lead to the Introduction of the 'Local Council Act (Bill)', Marking a New Turning Point
Local Council Budgetary and Organizational Authority Reflected in the Bill... Committed to Ensuring Passage in the 21st National Assembly

Kim Hyun-ki, Chairman of the Council of Chairpersons of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils of the Republic of Korea (Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, right), handed over the "Local Council Act (draft)" to National Assembly member Park Sung-min on the 19th.

Kim Hyun-gi, Chairman of the Council of Chairpersons of the Local Councils of the Republic of Korea (Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council), announced that after long efforts, the "Local Council Act (Draft)" was proposed to the National Assembly on the 19th.

The "Local Council Act (Draft)" is a law that regulates the organization and operation of local councils. On this day, Park Seong-min, a member of the People Power Party, was the chief proposer.

Chairman Kim Hyun-gi stated, "Without a major revision of the current Local Autonomy Act, which is centered on local government heads, local autonomy and decentralization are impossible," adding, "Just as the National Assembly operates based on the 'National Assembly Act,' local councils must also operate based on an independent 'Local Council Act' to fully fulfill their responsibilities of 'monitoring and checking the executive bodies.'"

He also said, "We have proposed the enactment of the Local Council Act several times, and this proposal marks a new turning point," and "We will do our best until the end to ensure it passes in the 21st National Assembly."

The enactment of the Local Council Act has been a long-standing task continuously proposed since the revival of local autonomy in 1991. The biggest issue is the balance with local government heads, the two main pillars of local autonomy. Although local councils are supposed to play the role of "monitoring and checking the executive bodies," all personnel authority, organizational authority, and budget authority belong to the local government heads, limiting the councils' ability to perform their roles effectively.

Although last year’s comprehensive revision of the Local Autonomy Act established grounds for independent personnel authority over council staff and support personnel for legislative activities, it remains insufficient, especially since organizational and budget authority still belong to local government heads.

Additionally, aides are operated within the scope of half the number of council members, meaning one aide is supported for every two council members, which is a partial system.

Accordingly, based on a consensus that an independent law is necessary to sufficiently guarantee the professionalism and autonomy of local councils, the current "Local Council Act (Draft)" was prepared and proposed to the National Assembly.

The main contents include independent budget authority for local council expenses, establishment of necessary administrative offices for councils, placement of policy research committee members for negotiation groups, and the realization of the aide system.

Regarding this, Chairman Kim has been making every effort to enact the Local Council Act since his inauguration as the 18th Chairman of the Council of Chairpersons of the Local Councils of the Republic of Korea in September last year.

First, he directly proposed the matter to the President at the "2nd Central-Local Cooperation Meeting" held in Ulsan in October last year and at the "Meeting with the President and Chairpersons of Local Councils" in December.

He also made proposals through meetings with People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok, Floor Leader Joo Ho-young (October 18), National Assembly members Lee Chae-ik and Jang Je-won, Chairperson of the Administrative Safety Committee (November 23/December 29), Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety Han Chang-seop (November 28), and Chairman of the National Balanced Development Committee Woo Dong-gi (December 20), as well as through various forums and seminars at the National Assembly, including the launch ceremony of the National Assembly Regional Balanced Development Forum (January 9, 2023).

Along with this, he prepared a basic draft of the Local Council Act together with the 17 local councils and received expert advice from the Korea Legislation Research Institute and the National Assembly Legislative Office, conducting practical preparations for the enactment of the Local Council Act.

On the 15th, the 320th Seoul Metropolitan Council extraordinary session adopted a "Resolution Urging the Enactment of the Local Council Act" and sent it to the government.

The Council of Chairpersons of Local Councils plans to expand consensus for the enactment of the "Local Council Act" through public hearings, seminars, and cooperation with National Assembly members and related academia.

Chairman Kim Hyun-gi has worked to ensure his ex officio appointment as a member of the Local Era Committee during his term, as well as efforts to realize realistic council activity expenses and improve the aide system. His term ends today, September 20.