Lee vows reform of Seoul-focused system to promote regional development

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a briefing for local leaders in office at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung pledged Wednesday to step up reforms to overhaul the Seoul-centric system and promote regional development by enhancing local financial autonomy and relocating public institutions.

Lee made the remark during his first meeting with regional mayors and governors since taking office in June, stressing the importance of cooperation between the central and local governments as "equal partners."

"It is more important than anything else that we reform the Seoul-centric system and achieve balanced regional development," he said.

"We will accelerate efforts to decentralize local finances and relocate public institutions to regional areas," he said.

Lee noted more subsidies and other support will be provided to regions that are farther away from Seoul under next year's budget bill to enhance local autonomy.

"The size of local autonomous budgets has nearly tripled, from around 3.8 trillion won to about 10.6 trillion won," he said.

Recalling that Korea first introduced the elections-based local government system 30 years ago, Lee pointed out that there is still much to be done to fill in the gaps in decentralization efforts.

"In fact, there have been critical assessments that local autonomy has been merely symbolic," he said. "The central government will work with local governments to improve people's livelihoods and make a better future for the Republic of Korea."