Yom Tae-young Mayor: "Local Autonomy and Gender Equality are Core Values of Democracy"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon Mayor Yom Tae-young emphasized that "local autonomy decentralization and gender equality are core values of democracy in that they restructure existing unequal power relationships."

At a special lecture held on June 23 at the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Grand Conference Hall during the "2020 Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Women Lawmakers Workshop," Mayor Yom stated, "When we connect local autonomy decentralization with gender equality in our thinking, we can see that both aim toward the same future of democracy."

Delivering a lecture on the theme of "Local Autonomy Decentralization Era and Women," Mayor Yom noted, "While the central government and local governments are simply different units of government, there is a fixed perception that the central government is the center, superior, and standard, while local governments are peripheral, inferior, and non-standard." He pointed out, "When we examine this structural way of thinking, patriarchy—which creates hierarchies between the central government and male-female relationships—operates through identical mechanisms of power."

He continued, "A gender-aware local autonomy decentralization government is a gender-equal government where women's representation is realized," and predicted, "If gender-aware local autonomy decentralization is not achieved, the innovation of the 'new normal' will regress." 'New Normal' refers to newly emerging standards that emerge with changes of the times.

Mayor Yom further stated, "Looking at the response to COVID-19, the actor that has systematically carried out innovative policies that allow citizens to feel safe is the local government," and expressed hope that "likewise, the challenge of women in composing a 'new normal' in gender power relationships will become the driving force of a future society that transforms existing power relationships."

He added, "My conception of local autonomy decentralization is to readjust the central government's inefficient and interventionist administration in an equal manner," and said, "The perspective of gender equality must also innovate existing male-centered institutions and fixed ideas and transform gender power relationships into more equal ways."

The Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly women lawmakers workshop on that day was attended by 27 women legislators. Mayor Yom Tae-young and Council Member Baek Hye-ryeon (Suwon District B) delivered special lectures.