South Korean local councils urge enactment of Local Council Act

Local councils across South Korea, including Jeju, are calling for the enactment of a dedicated ‘Local Council Act’ within the year. During a press conference at the National Assembly on the 9th, representatives argued that the current ‘Local Autonomy Act’ focuses too heavily on executive branches, leaving councils without sufficient authority to monitor and check government actions.

Proponents, including Representative Kang Deuk-gu and the Association of Chairpersons of Provincial and Municipal Councils, emphasized that a separate legal framework is necessary to ensure the independence and autonomy of local councils. They are seeking to secure organizational rights, budget authority, and auditing powers to strengthen grassroots democracy and complete true local decentralization.