Yum Tae-young, Suwon Mayor, and Other Local Government Leaders Jointly Adopt 'Jeju Declaration'

[Suwon Ilbo=Seo Dong-young] Forty local government leaders from across the nation have jointly adopted the 'Jeju Declaration' to realize local autonomy and decentralization.

The Local Autonomy and Decentralization Government Cooperation Meeting held the 1st National Autonomy and Decentralization Expo on the 17th at 2 p.m. at Haevichi Hotel and Resort in Jeju under the theme "Local Autonomy and Decentralization! How Our Lives Will Change!"

Participants included Yum Tae-young, Chairman of the National Council of Mayors, Governors and District Heads (Suwon Mayor), Kim Soon-eun, Chairwoman of the Presidential Committee for Autonomy and Decentralization, and representatives of member organizations including Moon Seok-jin, Chairman of the Local Autonomy and Decentralization Government Cooperation Meeting.

The participants jointly adopted the Jeju Declaration. Based on the Jeju autonomy and decentralization model introduced 13 years ago, the declaration reflects the necessity for the spread of autonomy and decentralization as a new spirit of the times and vision, and the commitment to transform into a substantive local government with guaranteed high-level autonomy.

The declaration urged the National Assembly and central government to ▲transfer administrative restructuring matters and authority to local governments ▲grant the right to submit legislative proposals related to local affairs ▲guarantee local government autonomy of organization and personnel ▲strengthen local financial independence by amending laws regarding local finance, among four other demands.

Local government leaders discussed response measures for autonomy and decentralization following the 2nd regular general meeting. In particular, Yum Tae-young, Suwon Mayor and Chairman of the National Council of Mayors, Governors and District Heads, emphasized the need for joint action to ensure that bills related to local governance and decentralization are passed by the National Assembly within this year.

Mayor Yum said, "The fastest way to overcome crises such as polarization, aging, and regional decline, and to create a sustainable society is to establish a nation of autonomy and decentralization," and expressed hope that "we can write a new chapter in local governance in Jeju, where the aspirations for autonomy and decentralization are reflected."