The provincial office has confirmed 57 projects which will be collectively called “The 7th revision of the Jeju Special Law” and submitted them to Seoul.
The revision draft includes the reimbursement of profit from local duty free shops to communities, the province’s tightened control over the JDC, Jeju Free International City Development Center, and the introduction of a direct election system for mayors. However, the future of the revision looks uncertain.
Joseph Kim reports.

The recently submitted draft for the 7th revision of the Jeju Special Law includes tools to tighten the province’s control over the JDC, Jeju Free International City Development Center.

Mandatory audit of JDC by the province’s audit committee, governor's right of nomination of candidates for JDC's CEO who is appointed by Seoul and, consultation over the appointment with the governor are included in the revision draft.


Tools to stop outflow of profits made in local duty free shops are also devised.


If the 7th revision draft is passed as it is, JDC will be obliged to pay 5 percent of net profits made at its duty free shops and the fund will be used for farming and fishing communities.


As a part of profit returning to local communities, collection of 1 percent of sales of nation's leading conglomerates' duty free shops including (롯데) Lotte and (신라) Shilla for the tourism promotion fund is included in the 7th revision again.


Strengthened control over the visa waiver program and renewal of casino business license is included in the draft for the revision.
The province wants to reinforce the governor's right to temporarily suspend the visa waiver program when an emergency occurs, as we have witnessed chaos in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and the surge of refugees.
Mandatory prior permission for transferring ownership of a casino business license and for regular renewal of the license every seven years by the governor is also in the revision draft.


Introduction of direct election system for mayors that has not been passed several times is noticeable.
However, the future of the revision looks uncertain.


Especially, suggested articles on the appointment of JDC's CEO and returning of profits of duty free shops to local communities are expected to be faced with difficulties when persuading Seoul as they are against fairness with other cities and provinces.

Meanwhile, the introduction of direct election system for mayors strongly suggested by the provincial council has been rejected by Seoul and the National Assembly. Future of the revision draft looks unclear.

Joseph Kim, KCTV