【브레이크뉴스 경북 】이성현 기자=경주시의회 의장이 현직 시장의 선거대책위원회에 참여하면서 지방의회 본연의 견제 기능이 훼손될 수 있다는 우려가 커지고 있다.

▲ 경주시의회     ©

오는 6·3 지방선거에서 3선을 노리는 주낙영 예비후보의 선거대책위원회 공동위원장으로 이동협 의장이 이름을 올리면서 지역 정치권과 시민사회에서 논란이 확산되는 분위기다.

특히 과거 서호대 전 의장이 주 시장 선거캠프에서 핵심 역할을 맡았던 사례가 재조명되며, 의회가 집행부를 견제하기보다 정치적으로 밀착되는 것 아니냐는 지적이 나온다.

지방의회는 예산 심의와 행정사무감사를 통해 집행부를 감시·견제하는 역할을 맡고 있다. 그러나 의회 수장이 특정 후보의 선거를 지원하는 상황에서는 이러한 기능이 제대로 작동하기 어렵다는 우려가 제기된다. 지역 정치권 관계자는 “의장이 선거캠프에 참여할 경우 의원들이 집행부에 대한 비판이나 감시에 부담을 느낄 수밖에 없다”고 말했다.

실제 다른 지역에서도 유사한 사례가 반복되며 논란이 이어져 왔다. 대전광역시 의회는 집행부 정책에 대한 견제보다는 협조에 치우쳤다는 비판을 받았고, 양천구 의회는 행정사무감사 운영을 둘러싸고 ‘밀실 감사’ 논란이 불거진 바 있다. 울산광역시 와 대구광역시 등에서도 의회와 집행부 간 정치적 이해관계가 얽히며 견제 기능 약화 지적이 제기된 사례가 있다.

전직 지방의원은 “의장이 특정 후보를 지원하는 구조에서는 의회의 독립성과 공정성을 기대하기 어렵다”며 “행정사무감사나 예산 심의가 형식적으로 흐를 가능성이 있다”고 지적했다.

현행법상 지방의원의 선거운동 참여 자체는 금지되지 않지만, 공직자의 정치적 중립성과 윤리 기준 측면에서 부적절하다는 비판이 나온다. 정치권 일각에서는 “법적 문제와 별개로 시민을 대표하는 의회 수장이 특정 후보의 선거에 깊이 관여하는 것은 바람직하지 않다”고 지적하고 있다.

한편, 이번 논란을 계기로 지방의회의 독립성과 견제 기능을 강화하기 위한 제도적 보완이 필요하다는 목소리도 커지고 있다.

<구글 번역으로 번역한 영문 기사의 전문 입니다. 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 밝힙니다.>

 [In-depth Coverage] Chairpersons Who Have Abandoned Their Role as 'Watchdogs'... The 'Checks and Balances' of Local Autonomy Are Collapsing

Controversy Over Gyeongju City Council Chairperson Heading Directly to Mayoral Election Campaign Camp... "Like a Referee Acting as Coach"

Judging by precedents of 'inadequate audits' in other local governments such as Daejeon and Yangcheon, an Administrative Vacuum Is All but Inevitable

While a healthy tension should naturally flow between the executive branch and the council—the two pillars of local autonomy—the recent situation unfolding in Gyeongju's political circles leaves residents frowning, as it raises suspicions of a 'secret alliance' rather than any sense of tension.

Gyeongju City Council Chairperson Lee Dong-hyeop has been named as a co-chair of the election campaign committee for preliminary candidate Joo Nak-young (the incumbent Mayor of Gyeongju), who is seeking a third term in the upcoming June 3 local elections. Strong criticism is mounting that this is a rehash of the past precedent where former Chairperson Seo Ho-dae served as Mayor Joo's overall campaign manager, sparking controversy over 'reward appointments' and the council acting as a rubber stamp. As the situation once again arises where the council chairman is actively working to secure the incumbent mayor's election, local political circles in Gyeongju are questioning the necessity of the council.

The argument is that the local council chairman is the highest-ranking official representing citizens to deliberate on the city budget and audit administrative affairs, and since the council is the premier body to check the executive branch, can it truly sharply point out the city hall's failures?

**Moral Hazard Driven by "Personal Connections" Proven by "Inadequate Audits" in Other Local Governments**

Chairman Lee Dong-hyeop argues, "I accepted the position because Mayor Ju is doing a good job and for the future of Gyeongju." However, the consequences of such actions driven by "personal connections" are already starkly evident in the examples of other local governments.

In 2025, the Daejeon Metropolitan City Council received the worst possible evaluation, having effectively degenerated into a "second company" of the executive branch by urging the early implementation of the mayor's key projects instead of acting as a check on them. The Yangcheon District Council also invited controversy over a "closed-door audit" by conducting its administrative audit behind closed doors amidst entangled political interests between the mayor and the council leadership.

Online discussions have been heated regarding numerous precedents in which the leadership of councils such as the Ulsan Metropolitan Council became so engrossed in supporting mayoral candidates during election campaigns that they reduced administrative audits and budget deliberations to mere formalities.

The Daegu Metropolitan Council, too, could not avoid the criticism that it failed to fulfill its inherent role due to personal animosity between Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and the council chairman.

Political circles interpret this as meaning that the moment the head of a local council assumes a key position in the mayor's campaign, the council's functions are effectively paralyzed. Mr. A, a former local council member, confessed in a phone call with this newspaper, “It is practically impossible for ordinary council members to uncover the mayor’s mistakes when the chairman is affiliated with the mayor’s camp.” He added, “No matter how much we try to act according to principle, we sometimes have to be mindful of the chairman’s mood and endure administrative disadvantages from the council as a result. This is because intangible pressure from the leadership is inevitable.”

Furthermore, there is a risk of administrative transparency deteriorating. This includes "indulgence audits," where sensitive issues unfavorable to the mayor, such as environmental pollution and fraudulent subsidy claims, are intentionally excluded from the scope of audits. Additionally, officials may disregard the council’s requests for data submission or explanations after seeing the chairman—who is supposed to be a watchdog—become the mayor’s "right-hand man."

"Political Collusion" Exploiting Legal Loopholes… Citizens Bear the Full Burden

Under current law, election campaigning by local council members is not illegal. However, a political insider pointed out, "Just because something cannot be punished legally does not mean it is granted a moral absolution," adding, "Just as one cannot expect fair officiating in a game where the referee acts as a coach for a specific team, an audit presided over by a council chairman who helps the mayor get elected is nothing more than a 'fake audit.'"

The case of Gyeongju City cannot escape the criticism that it is a deformed outcome born of "one-party monopoly" and "factional politics," which are chronic ills of Korean local autonomy. When checks and balances are reduced to "subordinate organizations" of the executive branch, the damage falls entirely on the citizens in the form of budget waste and administrative unilateralism. Ahead of the 2026 local elections, Gyeongju and its citizens are asking: Are the council members we elected the mayor's "election proxies," or are they "guardians of the citizens' rights and interests"?