The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City and its city council. [Yonhap]
The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City and its city council. [Yonhap]

The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City is moving to align the terms of the mayor with those of executives at its affiliated public institutions.

The city says the measure is intended to strengthen operational stability and accountability, but some institutions have voiced opposition.

The city recently submitted a special ordinance bill on the terms of executives at invested and funded institutions to a special session of the city council, according to Yonhap.

The bill would set two-year terms for heads, directors and auditors of such institutions, with the option of annual renewals, but would require them to complete their terms before a newly elected mayor takes office.

The measure extends to former South Jeolla Province-affiliated invested and funded institutions a system previously in place only in the former Gwangju city.

During the public notice period, three bodies submitted comments requesting revisions: the Jeonnam Environmental Industry Promotion Agency, the Gwangju Women and Family Foundation, and the labor union of the Gwangju Information and Culture Industry Promotion Agency.

The Jeonnam Environmental Industry Promotion Agency raised concerns about political neutrality and continuity of operations, calling for the removal of a provision that would end an executive's term upon a change of mayor regardless of remaining tenure.

The labor unions of the Gwangju Women and Family Foundation and the Gwangju Information and Culture Industry Promotion Agency asked that any temporary vacancy in an agency head position be filled through the acting duties of existing executives.

Separately, the city also submitted to the council an ordinance bill on worker directors at public institutions, which would require public institutions with 50 or more staff to appoint one worker director for organizations with fewer than 100 employees and two for larger ones.

Both ordinance bills are expected to be taken up and acted upon at the integrated city council's special session opening Wednesday.


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