Gunsan City Council members are pressing for the immediate enactment of a dedicated Local Councils

Gunsan City Council members are pressing for the immediate enactment of a dedicated Local Councils Act to secure institutional independence and fiscal autonomy, according to a report by Chungnamilbo. The Gunsan City Council formally adopted a resolution on October 23, demanding that the National Assembly and the central government pass legislation to address persistent administrative bottlenecks.

Push for Legislative Independence in Local Governance

The push follows the 2022 full amendment of the Local Autonomy Act, which granted local councils the authority to manage personnel appointments for their administrative staff. Despite that change, councils remain bound by statutory limits on organizational size and staffing caps. Local government leaders also lack the power to draft their own budgets, leaving fiscal allocations entirely in the hands of municipal executive heads.

Representative Kim Gi-yun proposed the resolution, securing unanimous co-sponsorship from all seven council members. The Gunsan City Council argues that the current framework creates operational friction, particularly in depopulated regions where efficient resource allocation and rigorous fiscal oversight are critical. Without autonomous organizational rights and independent budget-drafting authority, local lawmakers face severe constraints in verifying public projects.

Core Demands Outlined in the Resolution

The legislative proposal targets several structural changes to clarify responsibilities and expand local oversight. The text calls for three specific measures:

• Expedited parliamentary screening and enactment of the pending Local Councils Act.
• Guaranteed self-governing organizational rights and independent budget-drafting authority for local councils.
• Strengthened accountability through conflict-of-interest prevention measures, mandatory ethics training, enhanced information disclosure, and public participation frameworks.

Council President Jeon Yeon-seok emphasized that the proposed legislation aims to protect public funds rather than secure privileges for elected officials. He noted that the act is necessary to ensure taxpayer money is spent correctly and that community interests are accurately reflected in local policies.

The Gunsan City Council plans to deliver the adopted resolution directly to the Office of the President, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, the Chairperson of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee, and the Minister of the Interior and Safety.