Goyang-si Prepares for a New Leap on the 3rd Anniversary of Its Special City Status

Welfare Benefits Increased and Organization Expanded...
Urgent Need to Secure Financial Autonomy
Limitations of Incomplete Task Transfer Without Financial Authority
Mayor Lee Donghwan: "Cooperation with Four Special Cities and the National Assembly...
All-Out Efforts for the Passage of the Special Act on Support for Special Cities"

Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Dong-hwan) is preparing for a new leap forward to mark the 3rd anniversary of its elevation to a special city status.

Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, delivering a greeting at the "Special Act on Special City Designation National Assembly Policy Forum" held on October 14 last year. Provided by Goyang Special City.

On December 9, 2020, the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act passed the National Assembly, and on January 13, 2022, cities with populations exceeding 1 million?Goyang, Suwon, Yongin, and Changwon?were elevated to special city status.

Now, three years later, with Hwaseong City additionally elevated to special city status, a total of five cities, including Goyang Special City, hold this status.

Special cities are a new model of local government designed to respond to administrative demands at the metropolitan government level. They were launched to address social issues caused by rapid population growth and to promote regional development by implementing policies tailored to local conditions through high levels of autonomy and self-governance.

After elevation to special city status, the calculation of recognized income for three types of social welfare benefits (basic pension, disability pension, and emergency support) has applied metropolitan city standards, increasing welfare benefits. Additionally, special cities can establish one additional bureau to carry out key city tasks. Goyang Special City has established the Bureau for Realizing a Self-Sufficient City and is pursuing designation as an economic free zone.

Notably, last October, the city was designated as the first venture business promotion district in northern Gyeonggi, laying the foundation for the growth of local venture companies and attracting new businesses. Along with this, the transfer of 10 administrative tasks, including the formation and operation of the local construction review committee, has improved administrative efficiency by shortening processing times and enhancing administrative services.

These achievements are the result of joint efforts by the five special cities to secure special city authority. The five special cities have continuously proposed and urged the acquisition of practical authority through meetings with the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Chairperson of the Local Autonomy Committee, and members of the National Assembly. They have also shared issues related to special cities and requested system improvements through working-level consultations with central government ministries and the Local Autonomy Committee, related agency meetings, and National Assembly forums, consistently demanding the enactment of a special law for special cities.

Commemorative photo of the Special City Mayors' Council 2024 Second Half Regular Meeting (from left: Lee Jae-jun, Mayor of Suwon Special City; Hong Nam-pyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City; Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City; Jeong Myeong-geun, Mayor of Hwaseong Special City; Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin Special City). Provided by Goyang Special City

However, even three years after the launch of special cities, there are no special provisions to secure financial autonomy, and there is a limitation of a half-hearted transfer of tasks because necessary expenses to perform the transferred tasks have not been provided. Furthermore, the ambiguous status of special cities continues, as they are only administrative titles under the law and cannot be used in official documents, laws, or addresses. These issues remain challenges that special cities must resolve.

Fortunately, the government-initiated Special Act on Support for Special Cities passed the Cabinet meeting and was submitted to the National Assembly on December 27 of last year. Including the Special Act on Support for Special Cities proposed by Assemblyman Kim Seong-hoe (Goyang-si Gap), a total of seven bills are awaiting review by the National Assembly. If these bills pass, administrative and financial support for special cities and systematic basic plan establishment will become possible, and 19 new tasks will be transferred, expanding the authority that special cities can directly handle.

Mayor Lee Dong-hwan of Goyang Special City stated, “Goyang Special City will devote all its capabilities through mutual cooperation and solidarity with the other four special cities. We will urge the enactment of the special law through meetings with members of the National Assembly’s Administrative and Safety Committee and actively request practical authority and support necessary for special cities in cooperation with local assembly members.” He emphasized, “We will do our utmost to ensure the passage of the Special Act on Support for Special Cities for the new leap forward of Goyang Special City and the successful realization of the local era.”