True Decentralization Must Be Specified in the Constitution

The Council of 16 Provincial Governors across the nation released a statement on the 3rd, calling for the constitutional amendment to explicitly guarantee local governments' policy decision-making authority, autonomous fiscal authority, and establish a system for local participation in national legislation.

At the 22nd National Council of Provincial Governors meeting held at the Nurimaru APEC House in Busan, the council stated, "The scope and content of local autonomy rights under the current constitution are limited, and the central government merely decides local policies while local governments execute them." The council emphasized the need to address this issue.

In particular, the council stressed that "the constitution must strengthen the status and role of local governments, with interpretation rights regarding policy-related laws explicitly specified in the constitution to enhance autonomy and accountability."

Regarding the provision of autonomous fiscal authority to local governments, the council stated, "The current constitution makes local governments dependent on revenue determined by the central government, which reduces accountability. The constitution must grant local governments the authority to strengthen their tax base and determine tax rates."

Urging strong decentralization policies from the government, the governors presented six proposals to the central government, including the transfer of special local administrative agencies and personnel from the central government level to local authorities, genuine implementation of a self-governing police system, and transfer of central government authority over land development, urban development, and housing construction to local governments.