Special City Mayors Call for Expanded Administrative and Fiscal Authority for Special Cities

Special City Mayors Urge Expansion of Administrative and Fiscal Authority
Request for Prompt Passage of Local Autonomy Act Amendment and Special Support Act

Mayors of special cities with populations of over one million have called on the government to transfer administrative and fiscal powers equivalent to those of metropolitan cities.

Mayors belonging to the Special City Mayors Council of the Republic of Korea are pledging cooperation after delivering a petition requesting the expansion of special city authorities to the Presidential Office's National Policy Planning Committee. (From left) Na Chaemok, Director of the Local Autonomy Support Division, Ministry of the Interior and Safety; Lee Sangil, Mayor of Yongin; Lee Haesik, Director of the Political Administration Division, National Policy Planning Committee; Jung Myunggeun, Mayor of Hwaseong; Lee Jaejun, Mayor of Suwon. Provided by Hwaseong City

The Special City Mayors Council of the Republic of Korea attended a policy meeting hosted by the Political Administration Division of the Presidential Office's National Policy Planning Committee on July 9, where they delivered a petition containing these requests.

The meeting was attended by Jung Myunggeun, Mayor of Hwaseong (Chairman of the Special City Mayors Council), Lee Jaejun, Mayor of Suwon, Lee Sangil, Mayor of Yongin, and Lee Haesik, Director of the Political Administration Division.

In the petition, the council called for: ▲ prompt passage of the amendment to the Local Autonomy Act proposed in the National Assembly and swift enactment of the Special Act on Support for Special Cities; ▲ expansion and increase of the adjustment grant funds and the allocation rate of collected grants for special cities; ▲ identification and transfer of practical and effective administrative functions to special cities.

The council stated, "Special cities must be granted genuine administrative and fiscal autonomy, not just an increase in city size," and further requested, "Please support the five special cities so they can engage in cooperative initiatives with regions facing population decline."

Jung Myunggeun, Chairman of the council, said, "Hwaseong is home to the largest concentration of small and medium-sized enterprises in the country, with about 28,000 companies. Even though we want to implement tailored policies for businesses, the lack of real authority creates significant limitations on the ground."

Lee Sangil, Mayor of Yongin, also commented, "Special cities are already handling administrative demands at the level of metropolitan cities, yet we have not been granted legal status, our administrative powers are limited, and we have received no fiscal privileges at all. To provide citizens with reliable administrative services, special cities must be given legal status similar to special self-governing provinces."

In response, Lee Haesik, Director of the Political Administration Division, said, "We will continue to communicate with the Special City Mayors Council to improve the legal framework for the smooth operation of special cities and the realization of local autonomy."