Gijang-gun Requests Ministry of the Interior and Safety to Upgrade 'Myeon (면)' to 'Eup (읍)'
Meets Legal Requirements Such as Population and Urban Area Ratio, 97% Resident Approval
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] As a new town is being developed, ‘Ilgwang-myeon,’ which has experienced an ‘Ilgwang rush’ where more than half of the current residents have moved in within a year, is actively planning to be promoted to an ‘eup’ (town). ‘Ilgwang-eup’ is expected to be established as early as the first half of next year.
Busan’s Gijang-gun announced on the 20th that on the 18th, it requested the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Busan City to review the feasibility and approve the promotion of Ilgwang-myeon to an eup.
For an administrative district at the myeon (township) level to be promoted to an eup, according to Article 7 of the Local Autonomy Act and Article 7, Paragraph 3 of the Enforcement Decree of the same Act, it must meet requirements including a population of over 20,000, an urban population ratio of at least 40%, and a household ratio engaged in urban industries of at least 40%, and the residents must desire the promotion.
When Ilgwang-myeon surpassed a population of about 20,000 as of August last year, Gijang-gun proactively responded to administrative demands by forming the ‘Ilgwang-eup Promotion Task Force’ led by the Gijang-gun governor at the end of last year and has been actively promoting the promotion of Ilgwang-myeon to an eup.
Currently, Ilgwang-myeon has a population of about 26,000, with a rapid increase of about 15,000 new residents moving in last year alone following the development of Ilgwang New Town.
Additionally, with the construction of the Ilgwang New Government Office and Ilgwang Library scheduled to begin in 2022, and the establishment of the complex public facility ‘Bit·Mul·Kkum Education and Culture Town,’ the resident population is expected to increase further.
Currently, Ilgwang-myeon meets the legal requirements for promotion to eup with an urban population ratio of 83.2% and a household ratio engaged in urban industries of 97.3%.
In a resident survey conducted in September regarding the eup promotion, a high approval rate of 97.1% was shown, indicating strong expectations for the promotion.
Gijang-gun has completed the basic plan and field survey after gathering opinions from the Gijang-gun Council and has requested the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Busan City to review the feasibility and approve the promotion to eup.
After review by Busan City and final approval by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ilgwang-myeon will be promoted to eup through the enactment of related ordinances in the first half of 2022.
Accordingly, Gijang-gun plans to complete the final procedures for the promotion, including the opening of the Ilgwang-eup Administrative Welfare Center, and accelerate the construction of public facilities such as the Ilgwang New Government Office, Ilgwang Library, and Bit·Mul·Kkum Education and Culture Town.
Gijang-gun Governor Oh Gyu-seok said, “The promotion to Ilgwang-eup is expected to have effects such as balanced development of Gijang-gun, enhancement of the image and value as a new town, and boosting the pride of local residents.”
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