18th Regular Meeting of the Mayors and County Governors Association
of the 8th Civilian Administration
On the 16th, the 18th Regular Meeting of the Jeonnam Mayors and County Governors Association of the 8th Civilian Administration was held in the conference room on the 2nd floor of the Satto Gol Cultural Center in Gokseong County to discuss joint local government issues. Photo by Gokseong County
Gokseong County in Jeollanam-do (Governor Jo Sangrae) announced on the 17th that the 18th Regular Meeting of the Jeonnam Mayors and County Governors Association of the 8th Civilian Administration was held on the 16th in the conference room on the 2nd floor of the Satto Gol Cultural Center to discuss joint local government issues.
At this regular meeting, mayors and county governors from all 22 cities and counties in Jeollanam-do gathered in one place to vote on policy proposals and discuss major current issues. Fourteen agenda items were submitted for discussion, with Gokseong County proposing two items: ▲Expansion of local government authority for development activity permits and ▲Improvement measures for farmland flooding caused by climate change.
The agenda item on "Expansion of local government authority for development activity permits" addresses the need to improve the current system, which requires local governments to obtain development activity permits even for the installation of structures accompanying public projects, as the importance of disaster response due to climate change is increasing. The proposal, which calls for revising relevant laws to expand the scope of permit exemptions and simplify procedures, was approved as originally submitted.
The agenda item on "Improvement measures for farmland flooding caused by climate change" highlights the need to improve the design standards for drainage improvement projects and the methods for evaluating project feasibility, as repeated flooding of low-lying farmland has occurred due to recent extreme rainfall. The proposal calls for customized drainage facility designs that reflect the characteristics of each crop and for revising the evaluation criteria to incorporate comprehensive factors such as policy effectiveness and balanced regional development, rather than focusing solely on economic efficiency. It was approved with amendments, including the adoption of a 100-year rainfall frequency as the design standard.
The agenda items approved at the regular meeting will be submitted to the relevant central government ministries as proposals for institutional improvement. The ministries are expected to review the policy proposals and notify the results by October.
Governor Jo Sangrae stated, "Although each region faces different circumstances, we are all united in our mission to protect residents' happiness and achieve sustainable development," adding, "This has been a meaningful occasion to share experiences and wisdom, and to seek ways for mutual growth and cooperation."
Meanwhile, the Jeonnam Mayors and County Governors Association holds regular meetings every two months to promote exchange and cooperation among cities and counties and to discuss joint issues among local governments. The association continues to identify major policy tasks within the province and make ongoing proposals for institutional improvement to Jeollanam-do and the central government ministries.
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