Hong Jun-pyo "Gimpo's Incorporation into Seoul Reminds Me of Fly-by-Night Vendors Aiming for a 'Short-Lived Boom'"

"Seoul Megacity? A Step Backward in the Era of Decentralization"
Also Mentioned 'Great Capital Theory' by Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo in 2006

Hong Jun-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, criticized the People Power Party's mega-city Seoul plan, including the incorporation of Gimpo City in Gyeonggi Province into Seoul, on the 7th, saying, "The idea of incorporating Gimpo into Seoul reminds me of a fly-by-night operation aiming for a short-term boom," and called it "an anachronistic idea that goes against the era of localization."

On the same day, Mayor Hong wrote on his social media (SNS), "Since President Roh Moo-hyun, the key issue in South Korea for the past 20 years has been to ease concentration in the metropolitan area and achieve balanced national development. Under President Yoon Suk-yeol's administration, this has been further intensified by declaring an era of localization, striving to create a time when all policy capabilities make every region in South Korea equally prosperous."

Hong Jun-pyo, a member of the People Power Party, is giving a greeting at the JP Hope Camp closing ceremony held on the 8th at BNB Tower in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Mayor Hong criticized, "Suddenly, the People Power Party brought up the Seoul mega-city theory and is pushing the incorporation of Gimpo City into Seoul, which further intensifies concentration in the metropolitan area," adding, "In the era of local autonomy, administrative district reorganization is not only one of the most difficult challenges due to various resistances but also an anachronistic idea that goes against the era of localization."

He also pointed out that the mega-city Seoul plan could provoke backlash among voters in the general election. Mayor Hong said, "Although it is being promoted to target some votes from Seoul's satellite cities, it provokes resentment not only from the entire Gyeonggi Province but also from citizens in northern Seoul, and the resentment among residents in the Chungcheong and southern regions is even greater," adding, "Have you thought about why Kim Moon-soo, the former governor of Gyeonggi Province who advocated the so-called 'Greater Capital Area theory,' lost when he came to Daegu, our party's stronghold?" In 2006, former Governor Kim proposed the 'Greater Capital Area theory,' which called for the integration of Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon.

Mayor Hong added, "The idea of incorporating Gimpo into Seoul reminds me of a fly-by-night operation aiming for a short-term boom," and said, "If such a fly-by-night policy were to be pushed around March next year, it might be understandable, but with six months left until the general election, can a fly-by-night policy that goes against the spirit of the times succeed?"