Jeju Followed by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province... Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Act Passed in Plenary Session

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] A bill granting Gangwon Province the status of a special self-governing province passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 29th.

The National Assembly held a plenary session that day and approved the enactment of the Special Act on the Establishment of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. The bill grants Gangwon Province the legal status of a special self-governing district and provides various special privileges.

The bill also includes provisions that the government must make efforts to ease regulations to develop underdeveloped areas of Gangwon Province. According to the supplementary provisions, which state that the law will take effect one year after promulgation, Gangwon Province will be transformed into Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province around June next year, replacing its existing name.

Both ruling and opposition parties pledged during the last presidential election to make Gangwon a special self-governing province, and with the June 1 local elections held, the bill's processing gained momentum.