Oh Se-hoon Ignites 'Local Decentralization' in Constitutional Amendment Discussions

'Constitutional Amendment Debate for Local Decentralization' to Be Held at the National Assembly on the 12th
Emphasis Expected on Overcoming Centralized System and Building a Super-Regional Economy

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will visit the National Assembly next week to hold a constitutional amendment seminar. Mayor Oh, who has emphasized constitutional amendments focused on restructuring the power system, plans to specifically present the necessity of constitutional amendments to realize local decentralization.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 5th, the "Constitutional Amendment Debate for Overcoming the 1987 System through Local Decentralization," hosted by the city and the Seoul Institute and organized by the office of National Assembly member Yoon Jae-ok, will be held at the National Assembly on the 12th.

Amid the recent intensification of constitutional amendment discussions mainly among political circles and academia, Mayor Oh is the first local government head to raise the issue of constitutional amendments to realize local decentralization.

At this event, Mayor Oh is expected to argue that the core of overcoming the 1987 system lies in dismantling the centralized national system and significantly transferring authority to local governments. He also plans to mention bold local decentralization, including the transfer of not only legislative and administrative powers but also revenue and expenditure authority.

At the recent Seoul Metropolitan Government New Year's press briefing, Mayor Oh emphasized, "We must create a turning point for Korea's quantum jump by establishing the foundation for a super-regional economy through local decentralization and achieving mutual growth through each region's own development strategies and autonomous competition," repeatedly highlighting the paradigm that local areas are the new engine of national growth and the importance of constitutional amendment discussions centered on restructuring the power system.

Meanwhile, the debate will be attended by the People Power Party leadership, including Kwon Young-se, the party's emergency committee chairman, Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader, Kim Sang-hoon, policy committee chairman, and Lee Yang-su, secretary-general. Professor Kang Won-taek of Seoul National University will serve as the moderator. Lawyer Ha Seung-soo and Professor Hwang Seung-yeon, professor emeritus at Kyung Hee University, will present the main topics. Panelists expected to attend include Park Gi-gwan from the Local Era Committee, Yoo Min-bong, secretary-general of the Council of Governors, Professor Ko Mun-hyun of Soongsil University, Professor Jang Young-su of Korea University, Bae Gwi-hee, president of the Local Autonomy Association, and columnist Lee Jeong-min of JoongAng Ilbo.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.