Gyeonggi Province Assembly proposes enactment of 'Local Assembly Act' with independent audit and budget authority

On the 35th anniversary of the revival of local assemblies, the Gyeonggi Province Assembly delivered a 'proposal to urge enactment of the Local Assembly Act' to the National Assembly on the 25th, requesting unified efforts to enact the legislation within the year.

On that day, Gyeonggi Province Assembly Speaker Nam Jong-seop (Democratic Party, Yongin District 3), task force director Choi Jong-hyun for promoting the Local Assembly Act, and members Bang Sung-hwan, Lee Young-bong, and Choi Chan-min met with National Assembly Administrative Safety Committee Chair Kim Young-jin, followed by National Assembly members Lee Kwang-hee, Shin Jung-hun, and Kang Deuk-gu in sequence, delivering the proposal to urge enactment of the Local Assembly Act and the assembly's self-drafted bill.

Speaker Nam and the task force expressed gratitude to lawmakers who have shown interest in local assemblies and contributed to the bill proposal and discussion process, requesting continued efforts to ensure the Local Assembly Act is enacted within the year.

They then met with Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-joong, explained the necessity of enacting the Local Assembly Act, and conveyed the hope that the government would provide active interest and support.

The Gyeonggi Province Assembly previously launched a task force for promoting the Local Assembly Act on July 23rd and, after reviewing institutional improvement measures suited to local assembly realities, prepared its own 'Local Assembly Act draft bill' (Gyeonggi Province Assembly version).

The proposal contains content stating that since local assemblies serve as one pillar of local autonomy representing the will of residents and overseeing and monitoring executive branches, an independent legal framework matching their roles and responsibilities is necessary.

The Gyeonggi Province Assembly version also includes institutional improvement measures such as expansion of self-legislative authority, strengthening of organizational autonomy, granting independent audit powers, securing budget compilation independence, and expanding legislative and policy support systems.

Speaker Nam said, "Thanks to the efforts of lawmakers who directly proposed the Local Assembly Act and have continuously shown interest in the National Assembly, consensus on the enactment of the Local Assembly Act has become broader than ever," adding "On behalf of metropolitan assemblies nationwide, I express gratitude for the interest and efforts thus far."