Self-Governing Power For 11 Cities Largely Expanded

Self-governing power for 11 cities nationwide with a population of 500,000 or more (excluding Seoul and megalopolis) will be greatly expanded. Particularly in cities with large populations such as Su-won and Sung-nam, it is projected that at least one department with two branches will be added.

The department of self-administration said on Sunday, “As the revised version of the regional self-administration law passed the assembly on Sunday, cities with a population of 500,000 or more will be able to self-govern their respective office work.”

Related personnel said, “Cities with a population of 900,000 or more will be able to expand their organization into one department with two branches,” adding, “additional matters for self-government will be decided under the discussion of corresponding cities, self-governing megalopolis organizations that belong to the cities and related departments.”

The 11 cities are Su-won, Sung-nam, Ahn-yang, Bu-chun, An-san, Ko-yang, Yong-in in Kyunggi province, Chung-ju in Chungbuk province, Chun-ju in Chunbuk province, Po-hang in Kyungbuk province and Chang-won in Kyungnam province.

These cities currently have privileges in 42 clerical areas that cities with populations of 500,000 or less cannot decide on their own, but the range of self-governance will expand even more under the revised law, providing an opportunity for independent development between foundational self-governing organizations and megalopolis self-governing organizations.

The corresponding departmental leaders formed a conference committee for large cities nationwide, requesting systematic reform, saying that, “Cities with a population of 500,000 or more are disadvantaged in self-administrative power and personnel power, compared to megalopolis organizations.”

In fact, although the population of Su-won of 1.03 million is not much different from that of Ul-san with 1.06 million, the number of governmental officials working for Ul-san city is 4,500 (240 residents per official), while for Su-won, there are 2,200 officials working (470 residents per official). An-yang city has six times more people than Sok-cho city in Kangwon province, even though the budget limit is only twice that of Sok-cho’s.

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