Special Cities with Over One Million and Population-Declining Local Governments Join Hands for Balanced and Mutual Development

Agreement Signed at the National Assembly Members' Office Building

Major cities with populations of over one million and local governments experiencing population decline have joined forces to overcome the crisis of regional extinction and to promote balanced and mutually beneficial development.

The Korea Special City Mayors' Association, a group of special city mayors, and the Association of Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads of Population Declining Areas signed a win-win cooperation agreement at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 28th, pledging to work together.

At the 'Special City-Population Declining Area Win-Win Cooperation Agreement Ceremony' held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 28th, attendees pledged cooperation to overcome the crisis of population extinction and achieve balanced regional development. Provided by Hwaseong City

Through the agreement, the two associations decided to collaborate in various fields such as economy, culture, tourism, and volunteer work, seeking ways to revitalize local areas. To this end, they agreed to cooperate in the following areas: securing training center spaces by utilizing idle properties; promoting and selling agricultural and specialty products; exchanging artworks and museum collections and holding sports exchange events in the fields of culture, sports, and arts; developing stay-type shelters and facilitating urban-rural cultural exchanges; and providing medical volunteer services.

In addition, they will cooperate on initiatives to attract 'resident population', revitalize local economies, and mutually promote the Hometown Love Donation Program.

The two associations also delivered a proposal titled "Proposal for Joint Cooperation Activation between Population Declining Areas and Special Cities" to Shin Jung-hoon, Chairperson of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, calling for administrative and financial support for joint cooperation projects between population declining areas and special cities.

Lee Jaejun, Mayor of Suwon and President of the Korea Special City Mayors' Association, stated, "This agreement will be the first step in creating a new model for local autonomy and decentralization, as well as a new model for regional growth." Jeong Myeonggeun, Mayor of Hwaseong, also commented, "The issue of population decline is not a problem for specific regions alone, but a challenge that the entire Republic of Korea must address together," adding, "With this agreement as a starting point, we will actively cooperate for mutually beneficial development with population declining areas."

Song Inheon, County Governor of Goesan, North Chungcheong Province, and President of the Association of Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads of Population Declining Areas, said, "Population declining areas are facing many difficulties," and requested, "We hope that the government and the National Assembly will provide more consideration so that these regions can develop."

The Korea Special City Mayors' Association includes the mayors of five special cities: Suwon, Yongin, Goyang, and Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province, and Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province. The Association of Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads of Population Declining Areas is a coalition of 89 basic local governments nationwide that are facing the crisis of regional extinction.