[News Terms] Expanding Authority by Enacting Special Law, 'Teukrye-si'

Special cities are a new form of local government that grants metropolitan-level autonomous authority and discretion to large cities with a population of over 1 million, excluding special cities and metropolitan cities. They were introduced based on Article 198 of the revised Local Autonomy Act in 2021, which states, "Cities with a population of over 1 million and substantial administrative demand, national balanced development, and the risk of local extinction shall be designated as special cities by the Minister of the Interior and Safety according to standards and procedures prescribed by Presidential Decree."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is making closing remarks at the 23rd Public Livelihood Discussion Forum held under the theme "Republic of Korea New Growth Engine Hub, Yongin Special City" at Yongin Special City Hall, Gyeonggi Province, on the 25th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to this law, four local governments?Suwon, Yongin, and Goyang in Gyeonggi Province, and Changwon in Gyeongnam Province?officially launched as special cities in January 2022. Hwaseong City in Gyeonggi Province, which surpassed a population of 1 million at the end of last year, will join the special cities in January next year if it meets the criteria by the end of this year.

Special cities introduced under the revised Local Autonomy Act can independently carry out administrative services with their own authority and have been delegated some actual powers from the central government and provincial governors. Following the amendment of the Special Act on Decentralization and Regional Balance (Local Decentralization Act) in April last year and the decentralization of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's duties, authority over nine special administrative tasks has been transferred to special cities. For example, Yongin City received four tasks under the Local Decentralization Act amendment: designation, development, and operation of logistics complexes; formation and operation of the local construction technology review committee; mountain area use permits; and imposition and collection of environmental improvement charges. Additionally, tasks such as registration, cancellation, and support of non-profit private organizations under the Non-Profit Private Organization Support Act, and designation of tourism special zones under the Tourism Promotion Act were also transferred last year. Starting this year, consultation tasks related to the designation of new technology startup clusters will also be transferred to the city.

However, unlike special autonomous cities and provinces such as Sejong Special Autonomous City, Jeju Special Autonomous Province, and Gangwon Special Autonomous Province, there is no law explicitly defining the legal status or authority of special cities, leading to criticism that the level of authority transferred falls short of the original intent to strengthen local decentralization. The powers transferred so far amount to only about 10% of the 86 requests made by the Special City Support Council, a group of the four special cities, according to their position.

In response, the four special cities are promoting legislation for the "Special City Support Act (tentative name)" to legally establish the basis for support and substantial authority for special cities. On the 25th, President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Yongin Special City and stated, "We will enact the Special City Support Act to enable the four major special cities to carry out administration befitting special cities," reflecting this background. The special law will focus on establishing a promotion system to support the systematic development of special cities, including a basic plan every five years containing regional development visions and goals, and mid- to long-term strategies by sector such as regional industry, transportation, tourism, and urban infrastructure.