Suwon Special City Secures Seven Government Administrative Functions Starting on the 27th

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Beginning on the 27th, four special cities including Suwon will secure seven government administrative functions including 'imposition and collection of environmental improvement charges.'

Suwon City announced that seven administrative functions will be transferred to special cities starting the 27th, following the enforcement of the 'Special Act on Local Decentralization and Local Administrative System Reform (Local Decentralization Act)' promulgated on April 26 last year and the 'Partial Amendment to the Nonprofit Organization Support Act (Nonprofit Organization Act).'

The transferred special administrative functions include △imposition and collection of environmental improvement charges △approval of forest land conversion △composition and operation of local construction technology review committees △development and operation of logistics complexes △registration, deregistration, and support of nonprofit private organizations △tasks related to harbor development and management of locally-managed trade ports △management of public waters within locally-managed trade port harbor areas.

On May 4, when the 'Partial Amendment to the Tourism Promotion Act' is enforced, 'designation of tourism special zones and related tasks' will be transferred, and on April 19 next year, when the 'Partial Amendment to the Special Measures Act for Venture Enterprise Promotion' is enforced, 'consultation affairs for designation of new technology startup concentrated zones' will be transferred.

With the acquisition of authority to impose and collect environmental improvement charges, special cities will now receive direct delegation of environmental improvement charge collection authority from the Minister of Environment, rather than from provincial governors.

Additionally, securing authority for forest land conversion permits is expected to simplify administrative procedures and enable systematic management of large-scale development projects.

Suwon City will compose the 'Suwon City Local Construction Technology Review Committee' and establish and promote plans autonomously, thereby becoming able to review large-scale construction projects.

A Suwon City official stated, "Although we have secured authority over seven special administrative functions, it is still insufficient," and added, "We will continue to make efforts to secure authority commensurate with the name of a special city and develop a special city that residents can feel tangible benefits from."