Members of the National Assembly Lee Yong-bin (left in the photo) and Min Hyung-bae (right in the photo).
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] National Assembly members Lee Yong-bin (Gwangju Gwangsan-gap) and Min Hyung-bae (Gwangju Gwangsan-eul) expressed opposition to the boundary adjustment between autonomous districts in Gwangju Metropolitan City.
On the 22nd, they issued a joint statement saying, “The Gwangju Metropolitan City Autonomous District Boundary Adjustment Preparation Planning Group decided on the 19th at its 6th meeting to adopt a moderate reorganization plan that incorporates Cheomdan 1 and 2-dong of Gwangsan-gu into Buk-gu as the final plan,” adding, “Out of the total 42 members of the preparation planning group, 29 attended, and after three rounds of voting, only 17 approved.”
They argued that this represents an opinion supported by less than half of the entire planning group. They claimed that the boundary adjustment, promoted under the pretext of balanced development among autonomous districts and resolving population imbalance, is an unreasonable reorganization plan that accelerates imbalance by increasing the population of Buk-gu.
They continued, “As of the end of last month, Buk-gu (431,684 people) is a large autonomous district with a larger population than Gwangsan-gu (406,560 people),” explaining, “If Cheomdan 1 and 2-dong are incorporated into Buk-gu, the population of Gwangsan-gu will decrease to about 330,000, while Buk-gu will increase by about 10,000.”
They also emphasized, “All of Gwangsan-gu’s core infrastructure located in Cheomdan 1 and 2-dong, including universities, industrial complexes, hospitals, research facilities, welfare facilities, and sports park facilities, will be incorporated into Buk-gu,” calling it “a reorganization plan that goes against balanced development among autonomous districts.”
They claimed that the will of the citizens was not even publicized.
The two lawmakers stated, “The preparation planning group should sufficiently collect citizens’ opinions before pushing through with voting,” and questioned, “Is it appropriate to decide such an important issue concerning Gwangju’s future by a vote of the preparation planning group?”
They added, “Even though it is obvious that the plan cannot proceed without the consent of Gwangsan-gu, we cannot understand the preparation planning group’s behavior of confusing citizens,” and strongly urged, “Gwangju City should not hide behind the preparation planning group but take responsibility, actively promote the boundary adjustment plans, and thoroughly collect citizens’ opinions.”
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