Emphasized at the 10th Provincial Governors Policy Conference
"Many Constraints on Centralized Authority, Expressed Frustration
Paradoxically Calls for Guaranteeing Substantial Autonomy to Local Governments"
Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok emphasized the need for constitutional amendment at the provincial governors' policy conference hosted by the Korea Association of Governors on the 10th. [Photo by Jeollanam-do]
Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, emphasized on the 10th at the 2024 Provincial Governors Policy Conference hosted by the Korea Council of Governors that “a constitutional amendment is necessary for substantial decentralization of power, similar to Germany and France.”
Governor Kim made this statement during his presentation titled “Strengthening Decentralization through the German Federal System,” where he explained the limitations and solutions of local autonomy and raised the need for substantial decentralization.
Currently, South Korea faces a unipolar metropolitan system, a population cliff phenomenon, and the crisis of local extinction, which are leading to a weakening of national competitiveness.
Although various decentralization policies are being implemented to address these issues, local autonomy is actually regressing because the central government still refuses to relinquish authority. The situation in Jeonnam is particularly severe. The population, which was 3.31 million in the 1970s, has decreased to below 1.8 million, and out of the regional gross domestic product (GRDP) of 96 trillion won, 32 trillion won is flowing out to the metropolitan areas.
Governor Kim expressed frustration that despite efforts to promote various policies in fields such as advanced industries including the space launch vehicle industry cluster, energy, tourism, and agriculture and fisheries to overcome this situation, there are many restrictions due to the concentration of authority in the central government.
Regarding the Regional Balanced Development Special Account established for balanced regional development, he pointed out that the autonomous accounts managed by local governments are continuously shrinking, and 71% of these autonomous accounts are fixed for national projects such as disaster prevention, which severely limits the budget that can actually be used locally.
He cited actual cases such as delays in industrial complex development due to central government control over permits and approvals, and difficulties in promoting wind power projects because governors can only approve projects under 3MW, highlighting practical challenges.
He then introduced the decentralization models of Germany and France, explaining that Germany guarantees substantial authority to local governments through the Federal Council representing local interests and the joint tax distribution system. He also emphasized that France’s Senate, composed of local government representatives, represents local interests and clearly allocates administrative duties between the central and local governments.
Ultimately, Governor Kim argued that a permanent and institutional solution to realize decentralization is a constitutional amendment.
He stated, “We need to establish a Senate that represents the interests of local residents and guarantee the functions and roles of local governments through clear allocation of administrative duties between the central government and local governments. Additionally, by ensuring autonomous legislative and fiscal authority based on autonomy and responsibility, local governments should be able to have substantial autonomy.”
However, since constitutional amendments take time, he also proposed efforts to solve problems at other levels before that.
Governor Kim presented a vision, saying, “Through the ‘Jeonnam Special Autonomous Province’ initiative promoted by Jeonnam Province, we will be delegated authority over energy, tourism, agriculture and fisheries, and advanced industries where Jeonnam excels, creating new future growth engines. We will try it first in Jeonnam, and share the achievements with all local governments to present a new model of decentralization, thereby creating a Korea where the central and local governments harmonize.”
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