Ignited 'Local Decentralization' Constitutional Amendment... Local Leaders and Councils Also Take Action

Oh Sehoon to Attend Decentralization Debate Hosted by the Constitutional Association on the 6th
Yoo Jeongbok, Chairman of the Governors' Association, Announces Constitutional Amendment Proposal
Seoul Metropolitan Council Commissions Research Project on Constitutional Amendment

Amid the opening of discussions on constitutional amendments following the December 3 emergency martial law incident, local governments are accelerating efforts toward a 'decentralized constitutional amendment.' From local government heads emerging as presidential candidates to local councils, constitutional amendment discussions have begun.

According to political circles on the 6th, major metropolitan mayors have recently been leading the push for decentralized constitutional amendments. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is scheduled to attend the 'Decentralized Power Structure Constitutional Amendment Grand Debate' hosted by the Constitutional Association and the Democratic Promotion Council at the National Assembly Library on the same day. Last month, Mayor Oh also hosted the 'Constitutional Amendment Debate for Overcoming the 1987 System.' At that time, Mayor Oh stated, "Boldly transferring strong powers to local governments to devise development strategies and exercise fiscal authority will be a solution to prevent the evils of the imperial presidential system and reduce parliamentary tyranny."

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Yoo Jeong-bok, Mayor of Incheon and Chairman of the Korea Association of Governors, announced a constitutional amendment proposal on behalf of the association at a press conference on the 4th. On the 7th, a related debate will also be held at the National Assembly. The constitutional amendment proposal from the Governors' Association includes forming an upper house composed of 'regional representatives' representing local governments and a lower house elected through a multi-member district system, as well as explicitly stating in the constitution that "the Republic of Korea aims for decentralization." At the press conference, Mayor Yoo said, "We intend to disperse the excessive powers concentrated in the president and the National Assembly, enabling local governments to take the lead in achieving balanced regional growth through decentralized development."

However, some opposition party-affiliated governors have opposed certain parts, stating they were 'not consulted.' They particularly criticized provisions that would require the president to continue facing existing criminal trials and those designating the National Election Commission as an audit subject of the Board of Audit and Inspection. Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung and Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon, among others, protested, saying, "These opinions were not agreed upon within the Governors' Association."

Meanwhile, local councils are also joining the constitutional amendment discussions. The Seoul Metropolitan Council recently commissioned a research project titled 'Directions for Constitutional Amendments Regarding Local Autonomy in the 10th Constitutional Amendment.' The research aims to understand foreign constitutional provisions related to local autonomy and derive directions for strengthening local autonomy through constitutional amendments.

A council official explained, "In this situation where constitutional amendment discussions are active, there was a need to form discourse reflecting the achievements and reflections on the development of local autonomy at the local council level. As the senior body among local councils, the Seoul Metropolitan Council thought it necessary to secure meaningful alternatives regarding constitutional amendments, which led to the commissioning of this research."

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