Suwon mayor calls for transfer of central powers and funding to local governments
In short
Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun (이재준) called on October 8 for central government powers and financial resources to be transferred to local governments. Speaking at a city decentralisation council meeting, he said clarifying special-status cities' legal standing and securing meaningful fiscal provisions remained unfinished tasks.
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Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun (이재준) urged a transfer of authority and financial resources from central government to local governments at a meeting in Suwon City Hall on October 8, local outlets reported. Addressing the city's second regular decentralisation council meeting of 2026, he said local powers and roles had expanded but remained insufficient for local governments to decide matters themselves and take responsibility for their decisions. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
The mayor said local governments and citizens needed to work together to advance decentralisation. He pointed to the special law supporting special-status cities enacted in June, saying that clarifying those cities' legal standing and securing meaningful fiscal provisions remained tasks. He pledged to work so that the expanded powers under the law would lead to changes in residents' daily lives, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The meeting covered decentralisation policy under the ninth elected municipal administration and follow-up tasks for the law's implementation in June 2027. Newsis gave the commencement date as June 3. It reported that the Suwon mayor currently needs prior approval from the Gyeonggi governor to authorise buildings of 51 storeys or more, or a total floor area of at least 200,000 square metres, but that this procedure would be waived after the law takes effect. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Council members discussed a decentralisation radio talk show, educational materials and a forum on the development of special-status cities. Maeil Business said the proposals focused on helping residents understand decentralisation and participate in policy discussions. It reported that Suwon planned to use the meeting's suggestions to develop policy tasks for expanded powers and financial autonomy while continuing decentralisation policies based on citizen participation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The council discussed follow-up work for a special law supporting special-status cities that is due to take effect in June 2027. The mayor said expanded powers should produce changes residents can experience in daily life.
Key facts
- Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun (이재준) called on October 8 for powers and resources concentrated in central government to be transferred to local governments. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- He spoke at Suwon City Hall during a regular meeting of the city's decentralisation council. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The mayor said local governments still lacked sufficient authority to make and take responsibility for their own decisions. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The council discussed follow-up tasks for a law supporting special-status cities, due to take effect in June 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Proposals discussed included a radio talk show, educational materials and a forum on the development of special-status cities. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The mayor called for the transfer of central government powers and resources to local governments. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Clarifying special-status cities' legal standing and securing substantive fiscal provisions remain tasks, the mayor said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The council discussed a radio talk show, educational materials and a development forum. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- The additional powers and fiscal provisions Suwon will secure. The mayor described these as remaining tasks; the reports do not give a completed agreement.
- A June 3, 2027 commencement date and a change to approval requirements for large buildings. Only Newsis provides the exact date and building-approval example.