Nam Jong-seop, President of National Council of Provincial Assemblies, Holds Joint Press Conference at National Assembly on Sept. 9 to Urge Enactment of Local Assembly Law

Nam Jong-seop, chair of Gyeonggi Province Assembly (Democratic Party, Yongin District 3), held a joint press conference at the National Assembly Communications Hall on Sept. 9 with chairs and operating committee heads of provincial and municipal assemblies nationwide to urge the prompt enactment of the 'Local Assembly Law.'

Chair Nam, who serves as President of the National Council of Provincial Assemblies, demanded a decision from the National Assembly and the government, stating that the Local Assembly Law—which would institutionally guarantee the independence and autonomy of local assemblies—must be enacted this year without fail.

The press conference was attended by chairs of municipal and provincial assemblies from Daegu, Incheon, Daejeon, Sejong, Gangwon, and North Gyeongsang Province, as well as operating committee heads from Jeollanam Province and Gwangju, Incheon, Sejong, South Gyeongsang Province, and Jeju assemblies. From Gyeonggi Province Assembly, Operating Committee Chair Jang Han-byeol (Democratic Party, Suwon District 4) and Choi Jong-hyun, head of the task force promoting Local Assembly Law enactment (Democratic Party, Suwon District 7) attended, along with National Assembly Member Kang Deuk-gu.

Through a statement titled 'Local Assembly Independence, We Cannot Delay Any Longer,' the participants noted that while 35 years have passed since the revival of local assemblies, the institutional foundation befitting the role and responsibility of assemblies remains insufficient. They assessed that while progress was made through the comprehensive revision of the Local Autonomy Act implemented in 2022—namely personnel independence and the introduction of policy support staff—core authorities including organizational rights, budgetary authority, and audit powers remain constrained.

Accordingly, they demanded △prompt discussion and enactment within the year of related bills pending in the National Assembly △guarantee of local assemblies' organizational rights, budgetary authority, and audit powers △expansion of policy support staff positions and conversion to fixed-term positions. They also pledged to enhance transparency and ethical standards of assembly activities and strengthen internal audit systems as authority expands.

Chair Nam stated, "Independence of local assemblies is not for assembly members, but to ensure that residents' voices become policy and lead to changes in their lives. Now we must begin a new 35 years of local autonomy, and the starting point is precisely the enactment of the Local Assembly Law."

Meanwhile, Chair Nam visited the National Assembly on the 25th of last month to deliver a petition and Gyeonggi Province Assembly's own draft proposal urging Local Assembly Law enactment, followed by holding a National Assembly press conference on behalf of Gyeonggi Province Assembly on the 3rd. This time, as President of the National Council of Provincial Assemblies, he led coordinated responses from provincial and municipal assemblies nationwide, further broadening the coalition for legislation.