Nam Jong-seop, Chairman of National Council of Provincial Assemblies, Holds Joint Press Conference at National Assembly on September 9 to Urge Enactment of 'Local Assembly Act'

Nam Jong-seop, Chairman of Gyeonggi Province Assembly (Democratic Party, Yongin District 3), held a joint press conference with provincial assembly chairs and operation committee chairs nationwide at the National Assembly Media Center on September 9 to urge the prompt enactment of the 'Local Assembly Act.'

Chairman Nam, who serves as Chairman of the Korean Council of Provincial Assembly Chairs, demanded the National Assembly and government commit to enacting the Local Assembly Act, which would institutionally guarantee the independence and autonomy of local assemblies, by the end of this year.

The press conference was attended by assembly chairs from Daegu, Incheon, Daejeon, Sejong, Gangwon, and North Gyeongbuk provinces and cities, as well as operation committee chairs from South Jeolla-Gwangju, Incheon, Sejong, South Gyeongbuk, and Jeju assemblies. From Gyeonggi Province Assembly, Assembly Operation Committee Chair Jang Han-byul (Democratic Party, Suwon District 4) and Local Assembly Act Enactment Promotion Task Force Leader Choi Jong-hyun (Democratic Party, Suwon District 7) attended, and National Assembly Member Kang Deuk-gu also participated.

Through a statement titled 'Local Assembly Independence Cannot Be Delayed Any Longer,' participants noted that while local assemblies marked 35 years since their restoration, the institutional foundation commensurate with the role and responsibility of assemblies remains insufficient. Although progress was made through the 2022 comprehensive revision of the Local Autonomy Act with personnel authority independence and the introduction of policy support officials, it was assessed that core authorities such as organizational authority, budgetary authority, and audit authority remain restricted.

In response, they demanded △prompt discussion of pending related bills in the National Assembly and enactment by year's end △guarantee of local assemblies' organizational authority, budgetary authority, and audit authority △expansion of policy support official positions and conversion to special status positions, among others. They also pledged to enhance transparency and ethical standards in assembly activities and strengthen internal audit systems as authorities expand.

Chairman Nam stated, "Local assembly independence is not for assembly members, but to ensure that residents' voices become policy and lead to changes in their lives," and added, "Now we must begin a new 35 years of local autonomy, and the starting point is the enactment of the Local Assembly Act."

Meanwhile, Chairman Nam previously visited the National Assembly on the 25th of last month to deliver a petition urging the enactment of the Local Assembly Act and Gyeonggi Province Assembly's own draft bill, and held a National Assembly press conference on behalf of Gyeonggi Province Assembly on the 3rd. This time, as Chairman of the Korean Council of Provincial Assembly Chairs, he led coordinated responses from provincial assemblies nationwide, further broadening the coalition for legislation.