Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Proposes 'Local Assembly Act' with Independent Audit and Budget Authority

On the 25th, marking the 35th anniversary of the restoration of local assemblies, the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly delivered a 'proposal urging the enactment of the Local Assembly Act' to the National Assembly and requested unified efforts to enact the legislation within the year.

On the day, Assembly Speaker Nam Jong-seop (Democratic Party, Yongin District 3), Task Force Leader Choi Jong-hyun for promoting the Local Assembly Act, and members Bang Seong-hwan, Lee Young-bong, and Choi Chan-min met sequentially with Rep. Kim Young-jin, chairman of the National Assembly's Administration and Safety Committee, followed by National Assembly members Lee Gwang-hee, Shin Jung-hoon, and Kang Deuk-gu, delivering the proposal urging the enactment of the Local Assembly Act and the Assembly's own draft bill.

Speaker Nam and the Task Force expressed gratitude to lawmakers who have taken interest in local assemblies and supported the bill proposal and discussion process, and requested their continued efforts to ensure the Local Assembly Act is enacted within the year.

They subsequently met with Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung to explain the necessity of enacting the Local Assembly Act and conveyed the request that the government provide active interest and support.

The Provincial Assembly previously launched a Task Force for promoting the Local Assembly Act on July 23 and prepared its own 'Local Assembly Act draft bill' (Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly bill) after reviewing institutional improvement tasks suited to the reality of local assemblies.

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

Additionally, the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly bill includes institutional improvement measures such as expansion of autonomous legislative authority, strengthening organizational autonomy, granting independent audit authority, securing budget formulation independence, and expanding legislative and policy support systems.

Speaker Nam stated, "Thanks to the efforts of lawmakers who directly initiated the Local Assembly Act and have continuously shown interest in it at the National Assembly, consensus on the enactment of the Local Assembly Act has become wider than ever," and added, "Representing provincial assemblies nationwide, I extend my gratitude for your continued interest and efforts."