Suwon City Self-Governance Council and Korean Public Administration Association Hold Planning Seminar on Complete Revision of Local Autonomy Law

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] A planning seminar was held on the 30th in a conference room at Suwon Convention Center by the Suwon City Self-Governance Council and the Korean Public Administration Association on the theme of 'Significance and Expected Effects of Complete Revision of the Local Autonomy Law.'

The planning seminar proceeded with keynote presentations by Special Committee Member Koo Jeong-tae and Member So Soon-chang, followed by designated discussions.

Koo Jeong-tae, a special committee member of the National Conference of Mayors, Governors, and District Heads who served as a presenter, stated that "if the bill to completely revise the Local Autonomy Law passes, substantial residents' participation systems will be expanded." Member Koo noted that "the completion of true local autonomy depends on residents' participation," and predicted that "while the current Local Autonomy Law focuses on 'corporate autonomy,' the revised bill will enable society to shift toward 'residents' autonomy.'"

So Soon-chang, a member of the Presidential Policy Planning Committee, said that "if the bill to completely revise the Local Autonomy Law passes, we can lay a new foundation for autonomous decentralization," and added that "there will be effects such as expanded residents' sovereignty and local government autonomy, and strengthened capacity of local assemblies."

Designated discussions, presided over by Lee Won-hee, chairman of the Suwon City Self-Governance Council, included participation from Noh Min-ho, a member of the Suwon City Self-Governance Council; Moon Byung-gi, the incoming president of the Korean Local Government Association; Jeon Kwang-seop, chairman of the Korean Governance Association; and Kim Jae-hoon, chairman of the Korean Local Finance Association.

Chairman Lee Won-hee said, "the revision of the Local Autonomy Law will become an opportunity to change our lives," and emphasized that "both local government and citizens must take interest and join forces to enable the birth of a new system."