Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun: "Legal Status of Special Status City, Limitations in Securing Finances"

Suwon Special Status City Mayor Lee Jae-jun stated, "Through a paradigm shift in local decentralization, authority and resources concentrated in the central government must be boldly transferred to local governments."

The second regular meeting of 2026 for the Suwon City Local Autonomy Council (Chairman Gu Gyun-cheol) was held on the 8th in the City Hall conference room.

Mayor Lee, attending the meeting, said, "Although a special law supporting special status cities was enacted in June, 'clarification of the legal status' and 'securing substantial fiscal incentives' for special status cities remain pending tasks," and added, "I will do my best to ensure that the expanded authority under the special status city support law leads to changes in citizens' daily lives."

He continued, "While local authority and roles have gradually expanded over time, local governments do not yet have sufficient authority to make independent decisions and take responsibility," and stated, "A paradigm shift in local decentralization can be completed when local governments and citizens work together."

The Suwon City Local Autonomy Council discussed the direction of local decentralization policies following the launch of the ninth mayoral term and future tasks of the "Special Law on Support for Special Status Cities" scheduled to take effect in June 2027.

Jung Jae-jin, director of planning and coordination at the Suwon City Research Institute, made a presentation on the theme of "Achievements and Future Tasks of the Special Status City Special Law."

Members of the Local Autonomy Council discussed concrete implementation measures for "the paradigm shift in local decentralization" including ▲launching local autonomy radio talk shows ▲developing educational materials on local autonomy ▲holding forums on the development of special status cities.