May 30, 2006 ㅡ The local council represents the views and
preferences of residents, and serves as a check on the local government
to make sure it is implementing decisions made by the council.
On May 31, voters around the nation will elect 3,867
leaders of local governments and legislators of local councils. City
mayors, provincial governors and district heads will be chosen along
with representatives for city, provincial and district legislative
councils.
Under the system of local self-directed government, eligible
residents of each electoral district vote for their own leaders of
local governments and legislative councils to administer affairs in
their areas.
A local government is an organ to which the central
government has delegated some of its power to run the district. It has
autonomy, or the right of self-government. It is empowered to organize
itself, to administer the affairs of the locality or region, to make
local ordinances and legislation and to secure financial resources for
its operations and development programs. Members serve a term of four
years.
Historically,
Korea's
system of local government dates back to the Goryeo era's Sasimgwan
system. Under the system, the central government of the Goryeo Dynasty
gave some founding members the authority to run their hometowns with
some independence.
Korea's current system
of local autonomous government began in 1952, but it was suspended
after the May 16, 1961, military coup. It was revived in 1991, but
local
elections were limited to voting for representatives in local councils. Voting for the heads of local governments began in 1995.
In this year's local
elections,
the National Election Commission accepted registration of candidates on
May 16 and 17 and the official election campaign period, limited by law
to 13 days, runs from May 18 to 30.
Under the modern system of
autonomous local government, a local council gathers opinions and
suggestions from residents about local issues and proposed initiatives,
determines what actions to take (whether to approve or disapprove) and
what resources to use. The local administration implements the
decisions made at the local council.
The local council therefore represents the views and preferences
of residents and also serves as a check on the local government to make
sure it is implementing decisions made by the council.
In the upcoming
elections,
the Seoul Metropolitan City mayor, six other metropolitan city mayors
and nine provincial governors will be elected, along with heads of 230
gun (provincial districts) and gu (city districts) .
The autonomous local government system allows residents to
resolve issues in their regions that are too local for the
administrative authority of the central government. Under such a
system, local administrations provide tailor-made services and
improvements on the welfare of residents. This puts into practice the
principle of separation of powers and further develops democracy by
allowing residents to actively participate in the affairs of their
localities.
Sometimes, local governments and the central government may come
into conflict. Local governments can become too self-absorbed or
intensely focused on local concerns to the exclusion of wider social
concerns and national needs. For example, local administrations
pandering to parochial interests may block proposed projects unpopular
with local residents ― such as nuclear waste storage ― pouring
resources instead into facilities exclusively for local use, such as
schools and parks.
Local governments provide services that are directly linked to
the lives of residents. They provide water service and build bridges
and roads. They also help poor residents and carry out preventive
measures against epidemics.
For such programs, about half of the tax revenue collected from
local residents is spent through local governments. Last year, local
governments spent 52.8 percent of total expenditures by central and
local governments. Thus, the role of local councils, which check and
monitor the local governments and legislate regulations for local
districts, is important.
Despite the importance of autonomous local governments, the voter
turnout ― or the rate of voters actually casting their ballots in
elections ― has been dropping steadily. In 1995, 68.4 percent of eligible voters participated in the
elections, but the figure went down to
52.7 percent in 1998. In 2002, only 48.8 percent of voters cast their ballots.
When
less than 50 percent of eligible voters participate in an election, the
outcome is considered to be a poor mandate ― not a strong
representation of the people.
An election is called the flower of democracy. To increase the
number of people participating in the democratic process, the age when
people can begin to vote was lowered from 20 to 19 starting last year.
According to the National Election Commission, this year some 618,000
19-year-olds (those who were born before June 1, 1987) will be able to
cast ballots for the first time.
The election watchdog said that 37.07 million people are eligible to vote in the May 31
elections.
Among them, female voters comprise 50.8 percent, about 600,000 higher
than the number of male voters. Of the total voters, 23.6 percent are
in their 30s, while 22.6 percent are in their 40s. About 22 percent are
younger than 30, while about 17.2 percent are older than 60.
For the first time, 6,746 foreign residents in Korea are eligible to vote in local elections. These foreign voters have been granted permanent residence status three years ago and earlier.
The National Election Commission also said that on average,
three candidates are running for each position during this year's local
elections.
by Ser Myo-ja <
myoja@joongang.co.kr>