Suwon Should Be Upgraded to Metropolitan City or Reorganized as Special Metropolitan City

Rep. Kim Yong-nam of the New Frontier Party (Suwon B district) attended a policy forum titled "Enhancing Competitiveness of Mega Cities and Seeking Regional Cooperative Development" held at the National Assembly Members' Building on the 12th as a panelist, presenting development plans for major cities with populations exceeding 1 million, including Suwon.

Rep. Kim stated, "Gyeryongsi with a population of 40,000 and Suwon with 1.2 million show stark differences in financial resources and administrative demands, but there is little difference in terms of autonomous authority. Instead, citizens of major cities must endure relatively inferior administrative services compared to citizens of small cities or metropolitan cities," he said.

Major cities with populations exceeding 1 million, such as Suwon, should be upgraded to metropolitan city status with greatly enhanced autonomous authority, but metropolitan city upgrades have been stalled due to opposition from existing provinces and government fiscal concerns.

Rep. Kim proposed that cities with populations exceeding 1 million be recognized as special metropolitan cities with significantly strengthened autonomous authority.

Rep. Kim has long advocated for reorganizing Suwon into a special metropolitan city, and has already introduced bills to support the establishment of special metropolitan cities.

The "Bill for the Enactment of the Law Concerning the Establishment of Suwon Special Metropolitan City in Gyeonggi Province," introduced by Rep. Kim, changes "Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province" to "Suwon Special Metropolitan City, Gyeonggi Province" and recognizes various special provisions in organization, finance, and affairs, thereby greatly strengthening Suwon's autonomous authority.

Additionally, to grant a new legal status as a special metropolitan city, he co-introduced an "Amendment to the Local Autonomy Act" and prepared an "Amendment to the Local Tax Basic Act" that converts acquisition tax, which represents the largest share of current provincial taxes, entirely to "special metropolitan city tax."

Currently, Suwon collects acquisition tax annually and sends it to Gyeonggi Province, receiving only 50 percent back under the names of financial transfer payments (47 percent) and local allocation tax (3 percent).

If the amendment passes, Suwon's tax revenue will increase by approximately 170 billion won annually, enabling the city to provide high-quality administrative services to its citizens.

Rep. Kim said, "It would be desirable for Suwon to be upgraded to metropolitan city status, but as a practical alternative, it is more appropriate to reorganize it into Suwon Special Metropolitan City in Gyeonggi Province by amending current laws."