For better local autonomy

By Choi Shi-yong

Local autonomy in Korea is the product of the incessant democratic movement. The former president Kim Dae-jung went on a hunger strike for 13 days to achieve it and insisted that the nation must exercise local autonomy.

Besides, he wanted local autonomy to be the outcome of grassroots democracy and stressed that the community should make its own policies for its citizens. He also emphasized its independence from central government and assured that it will be the fundamental of a progressive society.

Consequently, voters elected governors, mayors and local congressman for themselves on June 27, 1995.

Twenty-two years have passed since the institution went into effect. Despite much anticipation on the newly settled system, people worried that local autonomy has had incorrigible problems. Local congressmen usually think that residents don't have interest in local politics.

The people in local districts hope that local congressmen handle civil complaints. Worse, the voters commonly want them to join the party. Otherwise, they think that councilmen are rude. People say that the success of a local council totally hinges on citizen's participation and their criticism of policies.

Most worrisome is that local government is still subject to central government. Local governments can't execute projects and businesses by themselves. Worse, the central government's monolithic project has led to inefficiency in the region because it didn't consider locally different characteristics.

Kim Suk-jo, chairman of the Busan city council, stressed the four things for local development. He added that we need staunch local council.

First, local councils should have the right to enact ordinances. This power can enable them make proper policies for their citizens.

Local councils once tried to enact an ordinance requiring the closure of supermarkets on weekends. However, this attempt was quashed by a court ruling that declared that decision illegal. This compelled a revision to the enacted ordinance in order to make it conform with the court ruling.

This case shows us that we have a long way to go before making necessary policies for local residents.

Second, local councils should secure financing on its own and use it for its purpose. However, 8-to-2 ratio of national and local tax, meager local consumption tax and lower acquisition tax hinder local councils from keeping their finances.

Besides, tax systems make the local government heavily dependent on the central government.

Third, local councils should have the right of personnel management. The local government still has control over human resources for local councils. Hence, the local congressmen have difficulties in hiring staff.

Besides, when a local government head appoints members of full standing at local councils, a local assembly can’t criticize the project freely.

Fourth, local councils should have checks and balances with local government. Principle of checks and balances are no longer available when a local government head and local congressmen belong to the same party.

People say that opposition forces should play a role in watching the business at local councils. However, regionalism in Korean politics has led to inefficiency in local politics.

Last but not least, if President Park Geun-hye makes her local development policy successful, she should empower local councils to perform more duties and autonomy on local affairs.

The central government should be courageous to abandon its vested right and belief in local government. Finally, we should pursued a balanced development nationwide.

The writer lives in Gwangju. He can be reached at freddd@ymail.com.