Mayor Yeom Tae-young: "Legislative Amendments and Decentralized Constitutional Reform Must Be Pursued Promptly"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] The joint leadership of the Council of Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads (Representative Chair Mayor Yeom Tae-young of Suwon) paid a visit to National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang at his reception room on the morning of the 29th.

The leadership proposed to Speaker Moon the swift passage of the "Full Amendment to the Local Autonomy Act" currently pending in the National Assembly, as well as legislative measures by the National Assembly, including fiscal decentralization centered on basic local governments.

The delegation also called for the re-pursuit of the "decentralized constitutional reform," which was promoted during the previous presidential election to more solidly guarantee autonomy and decentralization in cities, counties, and districts, but has seen recent discussions stall.

Additionally, the leadership handed over the "Five Declaration for Overcoming the Crisis of Basic Local Governments," which was announced by the leadership in July, to the National Assembly Speaker and explained its contents.

Representative Chair Yeom Tae-young said, "Currently, decentralization initiatives are being pursued centered on metropolitan cities and provinces. Local cities, counties, and districts view this as a very serious problem." He continued, "We proposed to the National Assembly Speaker to promptly pursue the enactment and amendment of various laws for grassroots autonomy and decentralization, and further advance decentralized constitutional reform."