People Power Party delegations from seven provincial and metropolitan councils adopt joint resolution calling for swift legislation
Participants stress need for greater independence and oversight authority for local assemblies
Seoul Metropolitan Council's Kim Gil-young delivers resolution directly to National Assembly committee negotiator
The People Power Party caucus of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, together with PPP delegations from regional assemblies across the country, is pushing for the enactment of a dedicated Local Assembly Act to strengthen the independence and autonomy of local legislative bodies. The drive aims to address institutional shortcomings that remain even after amendments to the Local Autonomy Act and to establish a distinct legal foundation enabling local assemblies to effectively check and oversee executive agencies.
The Seoul Metropolitan Council's PPP caucus said Thursday it held a meeting of PPP representative lawmakers from provincial and metropolitan councils nationwide and adopted a joint resolution calling for the swift passage of a Local Assembly Act in the National Assembly.
The meeting brought together delegations from seven regional assemblies: Kim Gil-young of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, Park Jong-cheol of the Busan Metropolitan Council, Jo Jae-cheol of the Daejeon Metropolitan Council, Bang Seong-hwan of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council, Lee Jong-seok of the Gangwon Provincial Council, Kim Kkot-im of the North Chungcheong Provincial Council and Park Seung-jik of the North Gyeongsang Provincial Council.
Participants agreed that meaningful progress in local self-governance requires institutional support commensurate with the authority and responsibilities of local assemblies.
They particularly noted that while amendments to the Local Autonomy Act had brought some structural changes — including greater personnel independence for local assemblies — significant limitations still remain in fully guaranteeing the autonomy and independence of assembly operations.
The delegations signed a joint resolution calling for the prompt enactment of a Local Assembly Act so that local assemblies can faithfully fulfill their core role of checking and overseeing executive agencies.
Following the meeting, the delegation visited the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon and met with Rep. Kang Myeong-gu, who leads the PPP's side on the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee. The group delivered the joint resolution in person, explained the need for a Local Assembly Act and requested that legislative discussions move forward at the Assembly level.
The adoption of the joint resolution is significant in that it consolidates calls for institutional reform — previously raised by individual local assemblies — into a unified position of PPP delegations from regional assemblies across the country. Attention will now turn to how discussions over strengthening the independence and authority of local assemblies unfold in the National Assembly's legislative process.
"Institutional limitations still prevent local assemblies from fully playing their role of representing residents and properly checking local governments," Kim said. "We will spare no effort until the Local Assembly Act is enacted, so that local assemblies can become working bodies that change residents' lives and bring local self-governance to fruition."
7toy7@heraldcorp.com
