Brake on Hasty Daejeon?South Chungcheong Integration,
Call for a Bill Guaranteeing Strong Local Autonomy
Daejeon City Council Chairperson Cho Wonhui issued a statement on February 24 welcoming the decision by the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee to put the special bill on administrative integration between South Chungcheong Province and Daejeon on hold, calling it "a reasonable judgment that put the brakes on a hasty piece of legislation and a very fortunate decision that has protected Daejeon's future."
Chairperson Cho pointed out, "The bill that has now been put on hold was passed in the Public Administration and Security Committee's review on the 12th with key fiscal special provisions and autonomy clauses drastically reduced, meaning the fiscal autonomy and policy-design authority of the integrated special city were not reflected at all," adding, "With such content, it is impossible to achieve the fundamental purpose of the bill, which is to create a capable local government that can cultivate and develop its own affairs."
Cho went on to stress, "I clearly oppose both any bill and any administrative integration that do not guarantee strong fiscal decentralization and substantive local autonomy," adding, "A bill that has lost its substance and retained only its shell cannot secure the next 100 years of Daejeon's future."
She further criticized, "As a party and main stakeholder in the administrative integration, the people of Daejeon were not consulted, and the legislative process was pushed forward unreasonably with the sole objective of passing the bill. In doing so, constructive discussions aimed at making a better law were blocked, while only conflict and confusion were imposed on citizens."
Public opinion is also calling for a cautious approach. In a recent public opinion survey conducted by Daejeon City, 41.5% of Daejeon citizens opposed administrative integration, a higher proportion than those in favor (33.7%), and 71.6% agreed that a resident referendum is necessary.
This shows that, in order to secure the legitimacy of promoting integration, procedures to confirm the will of residents must inevitably come first.
Chairperson Cho stated, "As shown in the opinion poll, the majority of Daejeon citizens do not want a hasty integration without sufficient review and public discussion," and added, "As a representative body that speaks for the citizens, the Daejeon City Council will never tolerate any decision that ignores these demands of the people."
She also emphasized, "Instead of a rushed integration, a resident referendum should be held immediately to directly confirm the will of the citizens, and the integration bill, which must embody a high level of autonomy with significantly transferred fiscal, organizational, and administrative authority, should be discussed again with sufficient time."
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