Interior ministry expands award nomination rights to Jeonnam-Gwangju mayor

The change came through a partial revision of the Government Commendation Regulations, issued as Presidential Decree No. 36720 and effective Sept. 29. The decree amends Article 6, which sets out who may recommend candidates for decorations and awards.

Under the revised rule, the integrated special city mayor joins the officials already holding nomination rights and the mayor of Seoul.

The revision follows the enactment of the Special Act on the Establishment of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, whose Article 46 assigns the city's mayor responsibility for recommending decorations for public officials belonging to the city.

According to the legislation ministry's explanation of the revision, nomination of decorations for public officials belonging to the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City is to be carried out by the city's mayor under the special act, and the amendment extends the range of officials with nomination rights accordingly. The decree also retains the nomination rights held by those authorized under Article 5 of the Awards and Decorations Act and by the Seoul mayor under the Special Act on Administrative Special Treatment for Seoul.

The revised regulations were promulgated after deliberation by the Cabinet, with President Lee Jae-myung signing the decree and Prime Minister Han Sung-sook and Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung also named on the document.