South Korean lawmakers urge Local Council Act passage and hold friendly soccer match

Representatives from the Gyeonggi Provincial Council, led by Chairman Nam Jong-seop, met with the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee to urge the enactment of the Local Council Act. The council is seeking to strengthen legislative autonomy, enhance policy support systems, and ensure budget independence by requiring prior consultation with the council chair when cutting budgets. They also emphasized the need to convert policy support officers into special service civil servants to improve their ability to assist with legislative activities.

Separately, members of the ruling and opposition parties participated in a friendly soccer tournament at the National Assembly grounds to mark the inauguration of the 22nd National Assembly Football Federation. Despite ongoing political tensions regarding judicial impeachments and tax reforms, lawmakers from both parties played together, with National Assembly Speaker Jo Jung-sik calling for the spirit of cooperation and communication demonstrated during the event.