Suwon City Urges Enactment of Military Noise Prevention Law with Local Governments

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] The 'Local Government Cooperation Council for Military Noise Prevention Law Enactment' (Military Local Coop) has urged prompt enactment of the law.

The Military Local Coop, comprised of 16 heads of basic local governments including Suwon City, announced a 'Government Resolution Urging Military Noise Prevention Law Enactment' at a joint meeting of local government leaders held on the 22nd at the conference hall of the Local Government Association in Sejong City.

The Military Local Coop demanded the composition of a 'Military Noise Prevention Law Enactment Task Force,' a pan-national consultative body involving the central government, local governments, members of the National Assembly, and experts.

Heads (or deputy heads) of local governments from six provinces including South Chungcheong, North Gyeongsang, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, North Chungcheong, and North Jeolla; two metropolitan cities including Daegu and Gwangju; and 16 cities, counties, and districts signed the resolution. Vice Mayor Cho Moo-young of Suwon City attended the meeting.

Thirteen military noise-related bills presented to the 20th National Assembly were consolidated in August into the 'Military Airfield and Military Range Noise Prevention and Damage Compensation Act,' which was passed by the National Assembly's National Defense Committee. However, deliberation by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee and plenary session remain pending.

With the enactment of the 'Airport Noise Prevention and Support for Noise Impact Areas Act' in 2010, residents in noise-affected areas around civilian airports receive appropriate compensation. However, residents near military facilities are excluded from the scope of application of the 'Airport Noise Prevention Act' and do not receive compensation.

Suwon City judged that joint response by local governments was necessary for the enactment of the military noise prevention law and joined the Military Local Coop in October 2015. The Military Local Coop was established in September 2015 with the goal of 'joint response among local governments for the enactment of the military noise prevention law.' It has made two legislative petitions. It has also urged the central government alongside regional members of the National Assembly to enact the military noise prevention law.