(1) Reasons for Proposal

While there have been six attempts to improve the system to complete Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and establish a competitive Free International City by transferring authority from central administration and using special cases, this Partial Amendment aims to supplement shortcomings observed in the enforcement of transferred authority, strengthen the autonomy of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, expand stable finances and enhance interests for people on the island, promote a sound tourism industry, reinforce environmental control in clean Jeju, and discover other projects for the development of Jeju.

(2) Major Provisions

A. Amend definitions in the Jeju Special Act (Article 2)

With an amendment to Article 1 (Purpose) of the Jeju Special Act (December 10, 2019), add “ensuring a high level of autonomy,” “seeking sustainable development in harmony with the economy and environment,” and “deregulating various economic activities.”

B. Introduce a special case in outsourcing administrative city work to the private sector (Article 15-3)

Prepare a basis to allow the mayor of an administrative city to outsource delegated work to the private sector to reinforce an administrative city’s functions and efficiently operate delegated work.

C. Ease requirements and procedures for residents to request ordinances (Article 29 paragraph 1)

Ease requirements to request the Provincial Council to establish, amend, or abolish ordinances in enforcing the Resident Ordinance Proposal Act to joint signatures in the range of one out of 200 of the total number of residents aged 18 and older.

D. Reinforce the independence of the Provincial Council regarding appointments (Articles 39 and 44)

Give the chairperson of the Provincial Council the right to independently appoint public officials to the Provincial Council in line with the proposed amendment to the Local Autonomy Act submitted by the government.

E. Amend special cases about parliamentary expenses for provincial council members (Article 40 paragraphs 2 and 3)

Change the name of the committee to align with functions under Article 33 of the Local Autonomy Act (deliberation committee on parliamentary activity expenses → deliberation committee on parliamentary expenses).

F. Prepare a basis to establish and support the Resident Autonomy Association (Article 45)

Prepare a basis to establish and operate the Resident Autonomy Association (changed from “Resident Autonomy Committee” to “Resident Autonomy Association”) to promote grassroots democracy and ensure the successful settlement of residents and provide the administrative and financial support required for its operation.

G. Improve fund resolutions under the Provincial Office of Education (Articles 68 and 69)

Require resolutions from a plenary session for the establishment and operation of funds under the Provincial Office of Education to ensure transparency, responsibility, and efficiency.

H. Prepare a basis to compensate for loss from the legitimate enforcement of the law by autonomous police (Article 96-2)

Require Jeju Special Self-Governing Province to fairly compensate for the losses any person suffers from the legitimate enforcement of the law by autonomous police officers and allow compensation criteria, amounts, procedures and methods, the Loss Compensation Review Committee, and other matters to be prescribed by Provincial Ordinance.

I. Improve year-based promotions for autonomous police officers on a mutatis mutandis basis (Article 119)

Follow Article 16 (Promotion for Continuous Service) of the Police Officials Act on a mutatis mutandis basis to apply the same year-based promotion period to autonomous police officers as national ones.

J. Improve the appointment method of the chairperson of the Audit and Inspection Committee and its members (Articles 131 and 132)

Require members of the Audit and Inspection Committee to be recommended by the Provincial Council and other organizations after going through a public hiring process to ensure independence for the Audit and Inspection Committee, and appoint the chairperson of the Audit and Inspection Committee from the candidates recommended after a public hiring process.

K. Recruit local and central public officials as staff for the Secretariat of the Audit and Inspection Committee (Article 133 paragraph 2) 

Allow public officials (firefighting officials who have shifted to national positions with the amendment to the Firefighting Officials Act on December 10, 2019) to be hired as staff for the Secretariat of the Audit and Inspection Committee to ensure professionalism in firefighting audits and promote smooth implementation.

L. Prioritize the Comprehensive Free International City Plan as the highest-level statutory plan (Article 140, paragraphs 1 and 3)

Clarify that the Comprehensive Free International City Plan is the highest-level statutory plan above other plans established by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province under other applicable laws and add population policies, performance indicators and a progress system, and resident welfare in the range of comprehensive planning.

M. Delegate the procedure and method of the Comprehensive Free International City Plan to Provincial Ordinance (Article 140 paragraph 4)

Change the procedure and method of the Comprehensive Free International City Plan to be prescribed by Provincial Ordinance instead of Presidential Decree.

N. Prepare the authority to request temporary suspension of non-visa entry and cancellation (Article 197, paragraph 4)

Prepare a basis to request suspension of non-visa entry and cancellation for foreigners entering without a visa in emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.