Gumi-si Adopts Joint Petition to Amend Clause on 'Metropolitan Cities with Populations Over 500,000'

Gumi-Wonju-Asan Three Cities Submit Joint Petition to Ministry of the Interior and Safety

Gumi City Councilors Gu Ja-geun and Kang Myung-gu Participate in Joint Proposal for Bill Amendment

Gumi City in Gyeongbuk Province, along with Wonju City and Asan City, submitted a joint petition to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 13th, urging the amendment of the proviso clause in Article 58 of the "Special Act on Local Autonomy Decentralization and Regional Balanced Development."

This petition reflects the determination of the three cities to relax the metropolitan special case area standard from the current 1000㎢ to 500㎢, thereby strengthening local balanced development through the realization of local autonomy decentralization.

National Assembly members Gu Ja-geun (Gumi City Gap) and Kang Myung-gu (Gumi City Eul) rolled up their sleeves on November 12 by participating as co-sponsors in the partial amendment bill of the "Special Act on Local Autonomy Decentralization and Regional Balanced Development," originally proposed by representatives Song Ki-heon and Park Jeong-ha, to ease the metropolitan special case standards.

Currently, Article 58 (Special Affairs for Metropolitan Cities) of the Local Decentralization and Balanced Development Act stipulates through a proviso clause that cities with a population of over 300,000 and an area of over 1000㎢ are regarded as "metropolitan cities with a population of over 500,000," providing a basis to promote region-led balanced development. However, there have been continuous criticisms that no local governments meet these requirements, rendering the law ineffective.

Accordingly, Gumi, Wonju, and Asan have requested an amendment to lower the metropolitan special case area standard from 1000㎢ to 500㎢ to preserve the original purpose of regional balanced development.

If the metropolitan special case status is secured, the respective local governments will see a significant enhancement in administrative and financial authority, which will serve as an opportunity to increase local autonomy. Through this, Gumi City is expected to respond more swiftly to increasing administrative demands and greatly contribute to region-led balanced development by promptly advancing urgent projects aimed at attracting investment, securing jobs, and improving living conditions such as housing, education, medical care, and culture.

Mayor Kim Jang-ho stated, "If the metropolitan special case status is secured, it will provide a foundation to pursue customized development tailored to regional characteristics," adding, "I hope that the three cities of Gumi, Wonju, and Asan will grow into representative cities leading the local era through the submission of this joint petition."

Joint Proposal for Legislative Amendment to Ensure the Effectiveness of the Special Act on Local Autonomy Decentralization and Regional Balanced Development. Provided by Gumi City