South Korean provincial assembly speaker seeks nationwide alliance for Local Assembly Act

Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Speaker Nam Jong-seop has launched a campaign to unite provincial assemblies across South Korea, aiming to achieve the long-sought goal of enacting a dedicated Local Assembly Act. This initiative is seen as crucial for completing the decentralization of power in the country.

Nam met with the leadership of the Incheon Metropolitan City Council on July 15th, proposing a unified "one-team" approach among the 16 provincial and metropolitan councils. He argued that a Local Assembly Act is essential for local councils to effectively check the power of local governments and to focus on issues directly impacting residents' lives. While the 2022 revision of the Local Autonomy Act granted personnel authority over assembly staff, critics argue that core powers remain subordinate to the executive branch, making local assemblies "independent in name only."

The proposed Local Assembly Act championed by Nam includes key provisions for strengthening independence and authority. These include the substantial expansion of legislative powers, securing the right to organize assembly bodies and establish independent budgets, creating professional legislative support agencies for provincial assemblies, granting independent audit authority, and significantly increasing specialized policy support personnel.

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The Local Assembly Act is not just an issue for a specific region or assembly, but a task for the era for the future of local autonomy in South Korea.

"The Local Assembly Act is not just an issue for a specific region or assembly, but a task for the era for the future of local autonomy in South Korea," Nam emphasized. He believes that a unified voice from all provincial councils can accelerate institutional changes that enhance the independence and accountability of local assemblies.

Following his visit to Incheon, Nam is scheduled to meet with the Speaker of the Jeju Provincial Council. He plans to sequentially visit provincial assemblies nationwide to broaden the national consensus and support base for the Local Assembly Act. Reports also suggest Nam is considering running for the next chairperson of the National Council of Provincial Council Speakers to consolidate their voices and maximize negotiation power with the Ministry of Interior and Safety and the National Assembly.

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When all provincial councils speak with one voice, we can accelerate institutional changes that enhance the independence and accountability of local assemblies.