Minister Yoon Hojung: "Agreement on Passing the Gangwon Special Act Within This Year"
Efforts to Find Fundamental Solutions to the Gangneung Drought
On September 19, Jin Tae Kim, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, visited the Government Seoul Office to meet with Yoon Hojung, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and requested active attention to major provincial administration issues and local matters, including the prompt passage of the third amendment to the Gangwon Special Act in the National Assembly.
Jin Tae Kim, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, visited the Government Seoul Office on the 19th to meet with Yoon Hojung, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, requesting active attention to major provincial administration issues and local matters, including the prompt passage of the third amendment to the Gangwon Special Act in the National Assembly. Provided by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
On this day, Governor Kim proposed four main initiatives: the prompt passage of the third amendment to the Gangwon Special Act in the National Assembly; special grant tax support for drought-affected areas; selection of Gangwon as a pilot region for the dual autonomous police system; and the introduction of a flexible local resource facility tax rate for thermal power generation.
Currently, the third amendment to the Gangwon Special Act was jointly proposed in September 2024 by Assemblymen Han Kiho and Song Kiheon. It consists of 40 legislative tasks and 68 articles, including 19 projects to concretize the vision of a future industry global city, 15 regulatory improvements that residents can feel, and 6 measures to strengthen the autonomy of the special self-governing province.
The bill is currently under review by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, having been referred to the first subcommittee for bill review. Governor Kim requested, "Please support the passage of the third amendment to the Gangwon Special Act within this year in line with the government's 'Five Major Axes, Three Special Zones' national balanced growth strategy."
Regarding local issues, Governor Kim requested special grant tax support of 4.4 billion won to respond to the drought in Gangneung, specifically for water transportation and the stable supply of raw water from Namdaecheon to the Hongje Water Purification Plant.
Additionally, in connection with the government's plan to fully implement the autonomous police system after its pilot operation, he asked for Gangwon to be selected as a pilot region, considering its vast jurisdiction and unique regional characteristics that include urban, border, abandoned mine, and rural fishing and farming areas. He also proposed an amendment to the Local Tax Act to allow the local government to adjust the tax rate on thermal power generation by up to 50% through local ordinance.
Minister Yoon Hojung stated that he would "cooperate with the relevant ministries and provide support" to ensure the third amendment to the Gangwon Special Act passes within the year. Regarding the drought, he said, "We will thoroughly review permanent measures and strive to find fundamental solutions." On the local resource facility tax, he explained that while the Ministry of the Interior and Safety does not oppose the idea, it will be necessary to persuade the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Environment.
Governor Jin Tae Kim stated, "I request the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to actively support not only provincial administration issues but also urgent local matters such as the Gangneung drought."
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