[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Four cities and provinces in the Chungcheong region have rolled up their sleeves to establish the ‘Chungcheong Special Local Government.’
According to Daejeon City on the 31st, the governors of the four cities and provinces in the Chungcheong region?Daejeon, Sejong, Chungnam, and Chungbuk?along with the chairpersons of their councils and officials from central government ministries held the ‘Chungcheong Special Local Government Establishment Agreement Ceremony’ and the launch event for the joint promotion team for the special local government at the Local Autonomy Hall in Sejong City.
The special local government is being established to resolve regional imbalances deepened by the concentration in the metropolitan area, strengthen the regional competitiveness of the Chungcheong region, and lead national balanced development and win-win cooperation.
The agreement was signed by the governors and council chairpersons of the four cities and provinces in the Chungcheong region, agreeing on the establishment of the special local government and mutual cooperation on ▲enactment of regulations ▲revision and enactment of ordinances and rules ▲administrative and financial support ▲building consensus among city and provincial residents ▲joint proposals for national support.
On the same day, the four cities and provinces of the Chungcheong region delivered the ‘Chungcheong Ultra-wide Area Cooperation Support Joint Proposal’ to various government ministries, actively requesting support.
Previously, the government adopted ultra-wide area cooperation between local governments as a national agenda to overcome the metropolitan area’s unipolar system and as a strategy for national balanced development, amending the Local Autonomy Act, the Special Act on Balanced National Development, and the Framework Act on National Land to seek support measures led by the regions.
The joint promotion team was launched with the purpose of leading ultra-wide area cooperation and regional balanced development in the Chungcheong region in line with this government policy, according to the explanation from the four cities and provinces in the Chungcheong region.
The joint promotion team will serve as a hub for jointly promoting tasks necessary for Chungcheong ultra-wide area cooperation, including ▲establishing a basic plan for the special local government ▲enacting regulations ▲discovering ultra-wide area tasks ▲discovering national delegated tasks ▲establishing a comprehensive plan for the installation of the special local government council ▲external cooperation.
In particular, ultra-wide area cooperation projects by sector such as industry, transportation, and culture will be discovered through consultations with central ministries and local governments, and promotion plans will be established.
Lee Jang-woo, Mayor of Daejeon City, said, “The Chungcheong region achieved the result of jointly bidding for the 2027 Summer World University Games last year,” adding, “Building on this, the Chungcheong region will continue to overcome regional conflicts and complete a powerful ultra-wide area cooperation body to counter the metropolitan area’s unipolar system.”
Choi Min-ho, Mayor of Sejong City, said, “The Chungcheong region is a leading area for balanced regional development through mutual growth,” and added, “Sejong City will strive to become the main player in spreading the Chungcheong megacity.”
Kim Tae-heum, Governor of Chungnam Province, said, “The establishment of the special local government will result in great achievements such as the co-growth of the Chungcheong region and national balanced development in the future.”
Kim Young-hwan, Governor of Chungbuk Province, said, “We will build a system of solidarity and cooperation in the Chungcheong region and cooperate with the central government to ensure the successful launch of the special local government.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
