Following the formation of the government of the Republic of Korea and the enactment and promulgation of the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 32) on July 4, 1949, Korea’s first local councils were organized in April 1952 through the election of council members in the administrative units of cities (-si), towns (-eup), and townships (-myeon). However, the autonomous system of local government was suspended on May 16, 1961, by Decree No. 4 of the Military Revolutionary Committee under Park Chung-hee. The Act was effectively revoked on September 1, 1961, as the Provisional Measures for Local Autonomy went into effect, returning control of local administrative units to the central government. Over 25 years later, on April 6, 1988, the Local Autonomy Act was again enacted after undergoing sweeping revisions. With the promulgation of Act No. 4004, the autonomous system of local government showed signs of reviving. Finally, in accordance with Act No. 4310, enacted on December 31, 1990, Siheung held a municipal council election on March 26, 1991, and the first Siheung City Council was formed on April 15, 1991.