Wanju County Council, Final Report Meeting on City Promotion Feasibility Study

'Legal and Administrative Measures... Presentation of Development Strategies'

The Wanju County Council in Jeonbuk (Chairman Yoo Eui-sik) announced on the 18th that it recently held the final report meeting for the "Study on the Plan for Wanju County's Promotion to City Status" in the cultural lecture room on the first floor of the county council building.

According to the Wanju County Council, about 30 people attended the report meeting, including Seo Nam-yong, the representative of the Wanju City Promotion Research Committee, council members Kim Jae-cheon, Kim Gyu-seong, Seong Jung-gi, Yoo Yi-su, Choi Kwang-ho, related officials from the executive branch, and the research agency Jeyoon Policy Co., Ltd. The results of the research project were shared, and key measures for future city promotion were discussed.

The Wanju County Council in Jeonbuk recently held the final report meeting for the "City Promotion Plan Research Project" in the cultural lecture room on the first floor. Photo by Wanju County Council

This research project was conducted considering various factors such as legal requirements for Wanju County's promotion to city status, administrative district adjustments, economic aspects, and reflection of residents' opinions.

The research committee analyzed that although the current population does not meet the threshold of over 50,000 and the urban form is not fully satisfied, there is a high possibility of promotion as a mixed urban-rural city. The study results indicated that industrial infrastructure and population growth trends are important factors for city promotion, and strategies for promotion should be prepared based on these.

The research project proposed easing the criteria for city promotion through legal changes such as amendments to the Jeonbuk Special Act. In particular, it emphasized introducing new population standards including the daytime population and registered foreigners, which could relax the requirements for city promotion. Consideration was also given to special provisions for establishing cities in mixed urban-rural forms.

Additionally, a strategy was proposed to form a central city by integrating Bongdong, Samnye, and Yongjin towns, promote the elevation of Iseo-myeon to town status, and strengthen administrative services and regional identity alongside population growth. It was analyzed that expanding infrastructure such as improving residential environments and revitalizing industrial complexes would bring sustainable regional development.

Plans for integration with Jeonju City were also discussed. By securing administrative efficiency and economic synergy, Wanju was set as a specialized development model. The evaluation highlighted fostering specialized industries such as local food, smart farms, and renewable energy, and expanding creative spaces based on culture and arts to achieve balanced development.

The city promotion plan presented in this research project will be pursued in a phased manner to enhance administrative efficiency and strengthen regional economic competitiveness. Subsequently, residents' opinions will be actively reflected, and policy design tailored to regional characteristics will be carried out. Based on this, Wanju County is expected to achieve self-sustaining development and sustainable promotion to city status.

Representative Seo Nam-yong said, "This research project has increased the possibility of Wanju County's promotion to city status and presented concrete measures to improve residents' quality of life," adding, "We will continue to do our best to achieve city promotion through a phased and careful approach based on sufficient communication with residents."