Emphasis at Yeosu-Suncheon-Gwangyang Administrative Council Regular Meeting
Proposal to Begin Full-Fledged Discussions on Building a Cooperative System
Jeong Kimyeong, Mayor of Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, stated at the 39th regular meeting of the 'Yeosu-Suncheon-Gwangyang Administrative Council' held on the 25th, "The solution to overcoming the crisis is to create a synergy effect through cooperation rather than competition between regions."
At the meeting, Mayor Jeong emphasized, "Yeosu, Suncheon, and Gwangyang have long been an economic community bound by a shared living sphere," and proposed, "Let us establish a practical framework for cooperation."
The 39th regular meeting of the Yeosu-Suncheon-Gwangyang Administrative Council was held on the 25th at Shilla Stay Yeosu. Photo by Yeosu City
He added, "For the cooperation among the three cities to yield results, it is most important to have sufficient consensus among citizens," and stressed, "Future collaborative projects should also be discussed with a focus on initiatives that citizens can truly feel, by gathering their opinions."
Regarding some media reports presenting a 'roadmap for establishing a special local government,' he explained that this refers to revitalizing the economic community as a genuinely shared living sphere, and that the content about responding to future changes such as population decline and regional extinction has been somewhat over-interpreted.
Meanwhile, at the meeting, the three cities agreed on the need to build a cooperative system to overcome the crisis facing the local economy, and discussed various measures for cooperation in areas such as responding to industrial crises, population decline, and sharing of living infrastructure.
In particular, they agreed to focus administrative efforts and begin practical consultations in earnest to overcome the economic downturn faced by the petrochemical and steel industries.
Additionally, they jointly proposed designating the Gwangyang Bay Area as a special industrial crisis response zone, and agreed that the mayors of the three cities and representatives of the chambers of commerce would gather to announce a joint declaration for collaborative response.
Furthermore, the Yeosu-Suncheon-Gwangyang Administrative Council will also discuss measures such as discounted admission fees for tourist attractions, joint use of local currency, joint response to bus labor disputes, and the formation of a council of healthcare institutions.
A city official stated, "As the three cities have agreed to cooperate to overcome the local economic crisis at this regular meeting, substantial effects are expected," and added, "As the chair city of the Administrative Council, Yeosu will continue to lead this trend."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
