Gangwon and Jeonbuk Deliver Protest Letter to Floor Leaders of Both Parties
Governor Kim Jin-tae: "No Review Has Taken Place in 15 Months"
"Residents' Patience Has Reached Its Limit"... Urging Prompt Review of 'Non-Contentious' Bills by the Public Administration and Security Committee
Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) on November 24 strongly urged the National Assembly to expedite discussions, emphasizing that the most urgent task for the passage of the third amendment to the Gangwon Special Act is to convene the first subcommittee of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee for bill review.
The third amendment to the Gangwon Special Act was jointly proposed by National Assembly members Han Kiho and Song Kiheon in September last year, but no review has taken place for over a year.
Although the bill was submitted to the first subcommittee for review on August 26, only a general statement was made that "a solution for handling it within the year will be sought," and the bill was deferred for further review. It was resubmitted on November 20, but the meeting was adjourned without any discussion, leading to growing disappointment among the residents of the province.
The Gangwon Special Act was submitted along with special acts for four regions-Gangwon, Jeonbuk, Jeju, and Busan-in August, and all other bills except for these regional special acts have already been reviewed.
In particular, the province emphasized that for the third amendment to the Gangwon Special Act, two-thirds of the total 40 legislative tasks are non-contentious bills that have already been agreed upon with the government, so there is no reason for further delays in processing.
Meanwhile, as the regular session of the National Assembly ends on December 9, the third amendment to the Gangwon Special Act must be reviewed by the first subcommittee before the plenary session of the Public Administration and Security Committee on November 27 if it is to be passed during this session, making the situation urgent.
Governor Kim Jin-tae stated, "The third amendment to the Gangwon Special Act has not been discussed even once in the National Assembly for 15 months," adding, "This contradicts the new administration's 'Five Regions, Three Special Zones' initiative and was a campaign pledge of both the ruling and opposition parties as well as a national policy task of the new administration. However, in reality, nothing has been achieved except for empty words."
He continued, "As the patience of the residents has reached its limit, we will prepare a letter of protest together with Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province and deliver it directly to the floor leaders of both parties today."
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