Request for Cooperation on National River Occupancy Permit to Expand Park Golf Courses

Seoul District Mayors Association Holds 191st Regular Meeting
Confirmed Executive Team for the 3rd Year of the 8th Elected Term
Strong Support for Regulatory Relaxation Including Development Restriction Zone Lifting and National River Occupation Permits to Meet Increasing Administrative Demands

The Seoul Metropolitan Council of District Mayors (Chairman Ilhyeong Lee, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu) held the 191st regular meeting, the first meeting of the third year of the 8th elected term, on the 10th at the 8th-floor conference room of Seoul City Hall.

With 23 district mayors (including deputy mayors attending as representatives) attending, including Chairman Ilhyeong Lee, the council approved Kim Mikyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu; Oh Eonseok, Mayor of Dobong-gu; Jin Gyohun, Mayor of Gangseo-gu; and Seo Gangseok, Mayor of Songpa-gu as vice chairmen, completing the executive lineup for the third year, and discussed matters to propose to Seoul City and relevant central government ministries.

The agenda items for the regular meeting included ▲Approval of vice chairmen for the 3rd year of the 8th elected term of the Seoul Metropolitan Council of District Mayors (Secretariat) ▲Budget proposal for revenue and expenditure for the 3rd year of the 8th elected term of the Council of District Mayors (Secretariat) ▲Proposal to partially transfer authority to lift development restriction zones (Dobong-gu, Seongbuk-gu, Gangbuk-gu, Nowon-gu) ▲Proposal to introduce mobile electronic notification service for automobile-related fines (Dobong-gu) ▲Request for cooperation in national river occupancy permits to expand park golf courses (Yeongdeungpo-gu) ▲Proposal to improve the national treasury subsidy rate (differentiated) for basic livelihood security benefits (Eunpyeong-gu) ▲Request for payment of collection and distribution fees for city-owned land (special account for housing projects) (Eunpyeong-gu), totaling seven agenda items, which were reviewed and resolved.

In this meeting, in-depth discussions among district mayors were held on topics related to decentralization such as the 'Proposal to partially transfer authority to lift development restriction zones (Dobong-gu, Seongbuk-gu, Gangbuk-gu, Nowon-gu)' and 'Proposal to improve the national treasury subsidy rate for basic livelihood security benefits (Eunpyeong-gu),' as well as on deregulation topics like the 'Request for cooperation in national river occupancy permits to expand park golf courses (Yeongdeungpo-gu).'

In particular, there was a shared understanding that the uniform national treasury subsidies, which fail to keep up with the increasing social welfare demand, are causing financial burdens to intensify in autonomous districts with high social welfare expenditure rates, and it was resolved to actively propose improvements to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Additionally, to respond to the growing demand for park golf courses, the council unanimously agreed to convey their joint opinion to the Ministry of Environment regarding the need for cooperation in national river occupancy permits and the expansion of park golf courses.

Chairman Ilhyeong Lee stated, “I fully empathize with the opinions of the mayors who submitted agenda items, and I will do my best to ensure that the approved agenda items, departing from past council practices, are practically implemented.”

The 192nd regular meeting, to be held jointly with Seoul City, is scheduled to take place at Seoul City Hall on September 11.