Im Miran, Gwangju City Council Member, "Autonomous District Boundary Adjustment Essential for Balanced Development"

Urging Future Measures... Also Advocating for the Reestablishment of the Basic Plan for the Medical Tourism Industry

Im Miran, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Council, urged for future measures regarding the ‘halt of boundary adjustments between autonomous districts.’

On the 5th, during the 325th 1st regular session’s municipal administration questioning, Councilor Im pointed out the problems arising from the suspension of boundary adjustments between autonomous districts in Gwangju.

According to Councilor Im, as of April this year, Gwangju’s population is 1,414,862, with Dong-gu at 106,690 (7.54%), Seo-gu at 282,274 (19.95%), Nam-gu at 208,632 (14.75%), Buk-gu at 422,779 (29.88%), and Gwangsan-gu at 394,487 (27.88%).

Gwangju is experiencing not only population disparities based on population and area but also deepening gaps and deviations among districts in various fields, which, according to Councilor Im, have led to ▲imbalances in administrative services ▲differences in educational and welfare facilities ▲transport infrastructure issues ▲low regional economic activity ▲political representation problems.

Councilor Im stated, “Gwangju City began discussions on boundary adjustments between autonomous districts in 2014 for balanced development, which were concretized at the district mayors’ council in January 2017,” adding, “Subsequently, through a research project costing 140 million KRW, three options were derived in November 2018.”

He continued, “Based on this research, in November 2020, the preparatory planning team proposed a medium-scale adjustment plan among small, medium, and large-scale options to Gwangju City,” and “However, in July 2022, during the 8th local government administration, the ongoing discussions on boundary adjustments between autonomous districts were halted, and a dedicated TF team was formed and operated.”

He also emphasized, “The dedicated TF team of Gwangju City held only one session in October 2022, the ‘Discussion on Autonomous District Name Changes and Administrative District Reorganization Working TF,’ which ended without any achievements,” and “The fact that discussions have been suspended to date is effectively a dereliction of duty by Gwangju City.”

Furthermore, he pointed out, “Boundary adjustments between autonomous districts in Gwangju are essential to promote population balance, finances, living infrastructure, administrative efficiency, political representation, and regional balanced development,” adding, “The sluggish activities of the city’s dedicated TF team, formed after scrapping the research project that cost 140 million KRW of taxpayers’ money, are a natural result of the complacency of the Gwangju department responsible for leading the boundary adjustments.”

He added, “Boundary adjustments between autonomous districts are not only a political issue but also a crucial policy that determines the quality of life of Gwangju citizens and must be handled with utmost care.”

Councilor Im Miran also raised concerns about measures for the high value-added medical tourism industry.

Councilor Im said, “Gwangju City possesses some of the nation’s top medical resources, including general hospitals, dental hospitals, hospitals, and advanced medical equipment relative to its population,” but “as of 2023, only 3,121 foreign patients were attracted, accounting for 0.51% of the total 605,000 foreign patients, indicating a poor medical tourism policy.”

In particular, he criticized, “The ‘Basic Plan for Revitalizing Medical Tourism in Gwangju City,’ which is the master plan serving as the premise for establishing specific plans for the basic policy of Gwangju medical tourism, is a shoddy document of only 27 pages including cover and appendices,” and insisted, “The basic plan must be newly established.”