Local Recall System Implementation Puts Mayors and County Heads on Alert

With the 'resident recall system' set to take effect on the 25th, allowing forced removal of elected local government officials, elected heads of local governments and local assembly members throughout Gyeonggi Province are bracing themselves.

As of the 16th, local government heads facing demands for resignation from civic organizations or labor unions include the mayor of Hanam and the mayor of Anyang, while Grand National Party members of the Gunpo City Council face recall pressure over the passage of an ordinance by means of snap voting.

In particular, civic groups in Hanam opposing the attraction of a regional crematorium have publicly declared they will launch a resident recall campaign if Mayor Kim Hwang-sik does not withdraw the crematorium attraction plan.

Additionally, attention is focused on whether Anyang Mayor Shin Jung-dae, who was sentenced to election law violation and ordered removal from office with a fine of 5 million won by the High Court, will become a target of resident recall, as local civic groups have warned that they will "hold him severely accountable in the name of civic organizations and citizens" if he does not step down.

The possibility of resident recall movements also cannot be ruled out for local government heads such as Suwon Mayor Kim Yong-seo and Seongnam Mayor Lee Dae-yeop, who are currently on trial for alleged election law violations.

Additionally, attention is being drawn to a Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly member Park surnamed for throwing a nameplate at a provincial government official during the budget and settlement review process, with the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Labor Union announcing through rallies that it will "inform residents of Anyang, the legislator's constituency, of this fact and have them initiate a resident recall."

Democratic Party members of the Gunpo City Council and civic groups have also criticized Grand National Party members for railroading the passage of a Facilities Management Corporation ordinance last month as "an act violating parliamentary democracy" and publicly declared they will "initiate resident recalls against the related members," drawing interest in how events will unfold.

Accordingly, resident recall cases against elected local government officials who commit irregularities or abuse their authority are expected to follow, while on the other hand, cases of leveraging this system to pressure elected officials are also anticipated to surge.

An official from a civic group in Gyeonggi said, "Until now, even incompetent or corrupt officials could not be removed once elected, but with the introduction of the resident recall system, we can now prevent the abuse of authority by heads of local governments and local assembly members," expressing hope that "local administration will henceforth become more transparent and accountability will be strengthened."

Meanwhile, the government deliberated and passed the 'Enforcement Decree for the Resident Recall Act' regulating the resident recall petition procedure at a cabinet meeting on the 15th to enable voters to remove local government heads or assembly members involved in irregularities or lacking administrative capacity through a vote.

Accordingly, starting the 25th, if petitions are signed by 10% or more of the total eligible recall voters for provincial governors, 15% or more for mayors, county heads, and district chiefs, and 20% or more for local assembly members, a vote can be held to determine whether they should be removed.