Goyang Special City (Mayor Lee Dong-hwan) is preparing for a new leap forward as it celebrates its third anniversary as a special city. Since being promoted to a special city on January 13, 2022, it has achieved various results, such as expanding welfare benefits and increasing administrative efficiency, but there are still issues to be resolved, such as lack of financial autonomy and ambiguity in legal status. Mayor Lee Dong-hwan expressed his will to achieve sustainable development of Goyang Special City through the enactment of the Special Act on Support for Special Cities.
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[Korean Today] Goyang Special City, 3rd anniversary of promotion, takes a new leap forward and solves challenges © Reporter Seung-ju Ji |
The meaning and results of promotion in special cases
Goyang Special City was launched on January 13, 2022, when the special city system for large cities with a population of over 1 million was implemented. It is a new local government model that can handle administrative demands at the metropolitan level, and is designed to effectively solve regional problems through a high degree of autonomy and autonomy.
Since its promotion to a special city, Goyang City has been able to receive welfare benefits that are in line with metropolitan city standards. Since metropolitan city standards are applied when calculating income recognition amounts such as basic pension, disability pension, and emergency support, citizens can now enjoy more welfare benefits. In addition, Goyang City has established a self-sufficient city realization bureau that can perform key tasks of the city due to its promotion to a special city, and is promoting the designation of a free economic zone. In October of last year, it achieved the designation of the first venture business promotion zone in northern Gyeonggi Province.
Increasing administrative efficiency and establishing a foundation for regional development
As a result of efforts to secure special city authority, Goyang City has transferred 10 tasks including the operation of the Local Construction Deliberation Committee, thereby reducing the time for administrative procedures and improving services. In addition, it has continuously requested substantial expansion of authority through various public-private cooperation and consultations with the central government.
However, in the current situation where there is no financial autonomy, there is a limitation that even the necessary expenses for carrying out the transferred work are not supported. In addition, the name of special city is not properly reflected legally and administratively, so it continues to be ambiguous and cannot be used in official documents and addresses.
The necessity of enacting a special law for special cases
Currently, Goyang Special City, Suwon, Yongin, Changwon, and Hwaseong, five special cities, have consistently requested the enactment of a special law to support special cities to solve these problems. On December 27 last year, a government-proposed bill passed the State Council and was submitted to the National Assembly, and a total of seven bills, including Goyang City Gap Kim Seong-hoe, are awaiting National Assembly review.
If the Special Act on Special Cities is passed, special cities will be able to establish systematic development plans based on financial and administrative support. In addition, 19 new offices will be transferred, which is expected to secure substantial autonomy for local government.
Mayor Lee Dong-hwan’s will and plans
Goyang Special City Mayor Lee Dong-hwan said, “Goyang Special City is focusing all of its capabilities on enacting a special law to support special cities in cooperation with Suwon, Yongin, Changwon, and Hwaseong,” and “We will work with the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee to ensure that we can receive authority and support that fits the characteristics of the region.”
He also emphasized, “If the Special Act on Support for Special Cities is passed, Goyang Special City will be able to establish a foundation for a new leap forward and establish itself as a successful model for the local era.”
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