Yoo Jeong-bok "Promoting Decentralized Constitutional Amendment... Revision Bill to Be Prepared Next Month"

At the New Year's Press Conference: "Now is the Right Time for Constitutional Amendment"
Emphasizing Decentralization... "Actively Improving Practices"

Yoo Jeong-bok, the newly appointed Chairman of the Korea Council of Governors (Mayor of Incheon), stated, "The crisis facing South Korea today largely stems from the concentration of national power," and added, "We will unite our efforts for a decentralized constitutional amendment." He also reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening local autonomy and revitalizing the livelihood economy.

At a New Year's press conference held at the Korea Press Center on the morning of the 13th, Chairman Yoo announced that one of the key tasks for this year is to promote a 'decentralized constitutional amendment.' Yoo said, "Now is the right time to discuss constitutional revision," and noted, "There are many who diagnose that the president holds overwhelming power and the National Assembly also has more power compared to other countries, which has become a factor causing the current political instability. I share this view."

Yoo Jeong-bok, Chairman of the Korea Council of Governors and Mayor of Incheon, is speaking at the New Year's press conference held at the Korea Press Center on the 13th. Provided by the Council of Governors.

In early February, opinions from cities and provinces will be collected to prepare the constitutional amendment, and an expert forum is planned for late February. Yoo stated, "We will prepare a decentralized constitutional amendment and, starting with the expert forum, communicate with related organizations to build a national consensus."

Additionally, Chairman Yoo revealed the Council of Governors' support policy to assist small business owners amid the sluggish economy. He explained, "The decline in domestic economic vitality and rising prices have intensified difficulties in the livelihood economy," and added, "Local governments will serve as a foundation to restore regional economic vitality through the swift execution of public finances."

He further elaborated, "We will strengthen support measures for small business owners and self-employed individuals to revive local production and consumption through livelihood policies," and emphasized, "We will do our utmost for regional stability and the recovery of the livelihood economy." Based on this, he plans to propose an early supplementary budget to the government. He said, "An early supplementary budget is an important measure to support small business owners, self-employed individuals, and small and medium-sized enterprises facing difficulties and to restore the livelihood economy," adding, "This is also why the Council adopted this in a joint declaration statement at the end of last year."

He also stressed the full-scale promotion of the local era. Yoo said, "The outdated centralized political and administrative system between the central and local governments, which has been formed under a centralized mindset, has not yet been resolved and remains an obstacle to local governments fulfilling their responsibilities due to fiscal distribution methods and various regulations," and added, "We will actively improve the deeply rooted central-oriented practices and culture in the consciousness of citizens and public officials to lead a paradigm shift in awareness."

Yoo concluded, "As we welcome the new year 2025, marking the 30th anniversary of local autonomy, I will fulfill my duties unwaveringly as Chairman of the Korea Council of Governors with the mindset of 'Bu-wi-jeong-gyeong'?correcting the wrongs in Korean society during this crisis and setting the country right."