Suwon Special City's Authority Expands Further

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] The authority of special cities with populations over one million, including Suwon, will be further expanded.

This follows the passage of the 'Special Act on Local Autonomy Decentralization and Local Administrative System Reform (hereinafter Local Decentralization Act)' amendment through the National Assembly plenary on the 5th, which grants special cities additional authority to handle 6 administrative functions.

The Local Decentralization Act amendment includes transferring to special cities 6 functions and their corresponding 121 administrative tasks: ▲affairs regarding environmental improvement burden payments ▲forest conversion permits ▲composition and operation of local construction technology review committees ▲development and operation of logistics complexes ▲development and operation of port facilities at local managed trade ports ▲management of public waters within local managed trade port harbor areas.

Additionally, it stipulates changing the designation of 'megacities with populations of one million' to 'special cities' as defined in the 'Local Autonomy Act.'

The National Assembly plenary also passed amendments to the 'Nonprofit Private Organization Support Act' on the same day. Upon implementation, administrative authority over nonprofit private organization registration, deregistration, and support matters will be transferred to special cities, enabling swift processing of related affairs. Public interest activities by nonprofit private organizations in Suwon are expected to become more active.

The Local Decentralization Act amendment and Nonprofit Private Organization Support Act amendment will be implemented after a one-year preparation period following law proclamation through State Council approval, as specified in the supplementary provisions.

With both amendments passing the National Assembly, Suwon is expected to secure greater authority and provide citizens with swift and efficient administrative services in related sectors.

Environmental improvement burden payments are currently being collected and managed by Suwon through re-delegation of authority from Gyeonggi Province. However, once authority is transferred to Suwon, administrative processing rights and actual processors will be unified in accordance with legal provisions, resulting in significantly improved work efficiency.

Additionally, Suwon will be able to secure additional grants for collection costs, enabling expansion of its own environmental improvement projects.

Meanwhile, of the 2 functions (6 unit tasks) included in the 'Second Comprehensive Transfer of Authority Act' passed through State Council on January 25th and submitted to the National Assembly, 'Special Tourism Zone Designation and Evaluation Affairs' (5 unit tasks) passed the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on March 31st, while 'New Technology Startup Cluster Area Designation Consultation Affairs' (1 unit task) awaits submission to the National Assembly Committee on Industry, Trade, Resource and SMEs.