Jeonnam Province Expands Consensus on 'Special Self-Governing Province' at National Assembly

Experts and Academia Participate in 'Special Act Enactment' Seminar
Kim Young-rok: "Securing Autonomy... Region-Led Development Model"

Attendees, including Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, are performing a ceremony for the enactment of the special law at the 'Jeollanam-do Special Autonomous Province Special Law Enactment National Assembly Seminar' held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 20th. Provided by Jeonnam Province

On the 20th, Jeonnam Province held the ‘Jeonnam Special Autonomous Province Special Act Enactment National Assembly Seminar’ at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, 2nd Small Conference Room, to draw the attention of the National Assembly and the government to the establishment of Jeonnam Special Autonomous Province and to promote nationwide public discussion.

The seminar, held under the theme ‘Overcoming the Crisis of Local Extinction through the Enactment of the Jeollanam-do Special Autonomous Province Special Act,’ was co-hosted by 10 National Assembly members from the Jeonnam region and organized by Jeonnam Province. About 150 people attended the event, including Governor Kim Young-rok of Jeonnam, National Assembly members from the Jeonnam region, local autonomy experts, academia, and city and county officials.

The attendees expressed their determination by participating in a performance with slogans urging the ‘Enactment of the Jeollanam-do Special Autonomous Province Special Act within the Year.’

Governor Kim Young-rok stated, “The unipolar system centered on the metropolitan area is deepening the crisis of local extinction, which leads to a weakening of national competitiveness,” and lamented, “Local governments face limitations in urgently implementing policies such as overcoming population issues due to a lack of authority.”

He continued, “The core purpose of establishing a special autonomous province is to secure proactive autonomy rights to overcome the crisis of local extinction,” and emphasized, “I ask for your support and encouragement so that we can obtain the status of a special autonomous province through enactment within this year.”

At the seminar, Professor Min Ki from Jeju National University, who designed the Jeju and Gangwon special autonomous province models and prepared execution strategies, presented on ‘Special Autonomous Provinces and Realizing the Uniqueness of Jeollanam-do Special Autonomous Province.’ Senior Research Fellow Geum Chang-ho from the Korea Policy Analysis Institute spoke on ‘Achievements and Limitations of Special Autonomous Provinces Based on the Cases of Jeonbuk and Gangwon,’ and Senior Research Fellow Kim Dae-sung from the Jeonnam Research Institute, who prepared the Jeonnam Special Autonomous Province Special Act, presented on ‘Regional Development Strategies through the Enactment of the Jeonnam Special Autonomous Province Special Act.’ Additionally, local autonomy experts including Bae Gwi-hee, President of the Korean Local Autonomy Association, and Honorary President So Soon-chang participated as discussants, broadening consensus on the necessity of establishing Jeonnam Special Autonomous Province.

The special act aims to enable Jeonnam, the region facing the greatest crisis of local extinction, to receive significant government authority transfers in areas such as energy, tourism, agriculture and fisheries, and advanced industries, thereby creating future growth engines and realizing substantial local decentralization. Key special provisions include ▲childbirth promotion policies to address low birth rates ▲designation of rural vitality promotion zones ▲transfer of renewable energy permits and approvals ▲creation of global tourism hubs ▲establishment of advanced science and technology complexes ▲transfer of integrated management authority over environmental pollution facilities ▲designation of airports and ports as international logistics zones ▲issuance of visas (metropolitan visas) to foreign residents within the province.

To establish Jeonnam Special Autonomous Province, 10 National Assembly members from Jeonnam, including Moon Geum-ju (chief proposer), Joo Cheol-hyun, and Shin Jeong-hoon, jointly proposed the special act in June. In July, Jeonnam Province, together with local assembly members, issued a ‘Statement Urging the Enactment of the Jeollanam-do Special Autonomous Province Special Act.’ Last month, the Jeonnam Mayors and Governors Council adopted a ‘Resolution Urging the Enactment of the Jeollanam-do Special Autonomous Province Special Act,’ and on the 15th, the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly formed a ‘Special Committee for Promoting Jeonnam Special Autonomous Province,’ showing unified voices from the local political community regarding Jeonnam Special Autonomous Province.

Meanwhile, Jeonnam Province is making every effort to persuade the National Assembly and government, working closely with the provincial assembly and local political circles, aiming for the enactment of the special act within this year.