The Korea Local Administration Research Institute and the Council of Korean Municipalities and District Council Chairs will hold a signing ceremony and joint seminar at the Dasan Hall of the Korea Local Administration Research Institute on the 22nd (Tuesday) to formalize a cooperation system for the development of local councils.
Through the agreement, the two organizations plan to promote various cooperative projects, including research and surveys on local council and local autonomy issues, and the holding of joint seminars. They show a strong will to establish a practical foundation for strengthening the capabilities and organizational improvement of local councils.
Following the signing of the agreement, a joint seminar will be held under the theme ‘Local Council Reform and Constitutional Amendment: A New Path for the Era of Autonomy.’ The event is co-hosted by the Korea Local Administration Research Institute and the Council of Korean Municipalities and District Council Chairs, and is sponsored by the Council of Korean Provincial and Metropolitan Legislatures.
The seminar will begin with an opening speech by Yook Dong-il, Head of the Korea Local Administration Research Institute, followed by a welcome speech by Kim Hyun-ki, Chair of the Council of Korean Municipalities and District Council Chairs, and a congratulatory address by Choi Ik-soon, Secretary General. It will be followed by two presentations and discussions on expanding local autonomy and enhancing the status of local councils.
The first presentation will be conducted by Kim Gun-woo, a research fellow at the Korea Local Administration Research Institute, on the topic of ‘Strengthening the Capacity of Local Council Administrative Organizations with Expanded Local Autonomy.’ Subsequently, Professor Kwon Ja-kyung from Gangneung-Wonju National University will present ‘A Proposal for Constitutional Amendment in the Form of Local Autonomy to Strengthen the Status of Local Councils.’
In the discussion, Professor Choi Heung-seok from Korea University will serve as the chair, with participants including Kim Heung-joo, Senior Research Fellow at the Daejeon Sejong Research Institute, Shin Bo-gum, a member of Gangneung City Council, Jung Yu-hoon, Senior Expert Secretary of the Council of Korean Provincial and Metropolitan Legislatures, and Cho Kyung-hoon, Professor at Korea National Open University.
Yook Dong-il, Head of the Korea Local Administration Research Institute, stated, “We expect this to provide practical policy support measures to elevate the role and status of local councils,” and emphasized that “the institute will continue to collaborate for the development of local councils.”
Kim Hyun-ki, Chair of the Council of Korean Municipalities and District Council Chairs, expressed hopes for “more active research and development for local council structural improvement and expertise enhancement,” and looked forward to stronger cooperation between the two organizations.
