Anyang Mayor Choi Dae-ho challenges Democratic Party supreme council member to ”represent the voice of local governments”

"We will go beyond half-baked local government and become a voice for local government organizations," said Choi Dae-ho, who announced his candidacy for the election of the Democratic Party's Supreme Committee.
These were the first words of the mayor of Anyang, Gyeonggi. Mayor Choi said on the 30th, "Now, not only the local government but also the economy, inter-Korean relations, and the world are in a difficult situation.
"The Republic of Korea is currently facing various difficult times, including the current political situation," he said. "At a time like this, we need to strengthen the role of capable progressives and, in particular, to overcome the crisis of local autonomy and decentralization.
"I thought I should speak out," he said, explaining the reason behind his candidacy. Mayor Choi Dae-ho cited "financial decentralization" as a remaining issue even after the revision of the Local Autonomy Act.
Although a certain amount of the tax revenue was transferred, the local government budget is still insufficient. Mayor Choi said, “A significant portion of the tax revenue of local governments is generated in the process of housing transactions, but local governments are not able to collect the tax on acquisitions.
"We will only collect property taxes, and the transfer tax, which has the largest weighting, will be taken over by the government," he said. "Government subsidies will also need to be raised from the current 27-27% level to over 30%."
"Even now, local government leaders have to be considerate of the central government and cannot receive budgets unless they belong to a faction of Diet members. Only when these aspects are completely improved can local autonomy be realized," he said.
"I think it will be a big step forward," he said. The current heads of local governments who are running for the supreme council are Hwang Myung-seong (former Mayor of Nonsan) and Yeom Tae Yeon (former Mayor of Suwon), who are now members of the National Assembly.
If he becomes a supreme committee member at this party convention, he will become just the second active organization leader to do so after Mayor Tae Yeonformer, but there are many obstacles to overcome.
Mayor Choi said, "In the past, when Mayor Seo Tae-Yeon became a supreme committee member, there were many Democratic Party group leaders, but now there are only 65, and it is a difficult situation."
"I have been elected mayor three times and have realized the values pursued by the Democratic Party through various policies, so I believe that if I publicize these points and appeal to party members and the public, I will be recognized," he said, firming his resolve.
In 1958, Mayor Choi of Haenam, Cheongnam-do, graduated from Haenam High School and the Department of Economics at Korea Open University, and completed his doctoral studies at the Graduate School of Education at Korea University.
He has previously served as chairman of the Government Council, chairman of the Gyeonggi Provincial Party of the Democratic Party's Local Autonomy Committee, and chairman of the National Metropolitan Market Council, and is currently serving three terms as mayor of Anyang, elected by the government for five, seventh, and eighth terms.
Mayor Choi Dae-ho plans to hold a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center at 9:20 a.m. on July 4th to announce his candidacy.