Four Special Self-Governing Cities and Provinces Nationwide to Jointly Cooperate on Completion of Administrative Capital Sejong

Regular Meeting of the Administrative Council Held at the National Assembly on the 14th
Joint Resolution Adopted on Key Issues Including the “5 Poles, 3 Special Zones” National Agenda

Clockwise: Kim Gwanyeong, Governor of Jeonbuk Province; Oh Younghoon, Governor of Jeju Province; Choi Minho, Mayor of Sejong; Kim Jintae, Governor of Gangwon Province. Photo by Department of Autonomous Administration, Autonomous Administration Division

The Administrative Council of Special Self-Governing Cities and Provinces across the country, including Sejong, Jeju, Gangwon, and Jeonbuk, has agreed to join forces to complete the administrative capital project in Sejong.

On July 14, Sejong City announced that, during the regular meeting of the National Administrative Council of Special Self-Governing Cities and Provinces held at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building, the governors of the four regions adopted a joint resolution, formalizing their cooperation on key issues such as the completion of the administrative capital.

This regular meeting was the first since the council became a statutory body in January this year. It was attended by Choi Minho, Mayor of Sejong and the council’s chairperson; Oh Younghoon, Governor of Jeju Province; Kim Jintae, Governor of Gangwon Province; and Kim Gwanyeong, Governor of Jeonbuk Province. Marking the 30th anniversary of locally elected governments, they agreed to strengthen cooperation among special self-governing cities and provinces to ensure substantive autonomy and enhance their institutional status.

According to the adopted joint resolution, they will: ▲ work together to expedite the passage of the amendment to the Special Act on Special Self-Governing Cities and Provinces in the National Assembly; ▲ strengthen their roles as key actors in the “5 Poles, 3 Special Zones” national balanced development initiative; and ▲ cooperate on each region’s core priorities, including the completion of the administrative capital.

In particular, they plan to jointly respond to the full revision of the Sejong City Act to enhance region-specific development and autonomy, while expanding consensus on the completion of the administrative capital as a national balanced development strategy.

They also requested the active participation of other special self-governing provinces in the “One Million Signatures Campaign for the Completion of the Administrative Capital,” and held a symbolic signing ceremony with the governors on site.

During the policy forum on strengthening autonomy and decentralization for special self-governing cities and provinces, which followed the regular meeting, Lee Seungjong, Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University, gave a presentation on the direction of local autonomy after 30 years of locally elected governments. Lim Seungbin, Professor Emeritus at Myongji University, followed with a presentation on development directions and legal and institutional measures for each special self-governing city and province, highlighting the need for and methods of institutional improvement.

Mayor Choi stated, “The completion of the administrative capital is a core task for balanced national development. It is a historic mission entrusted to Sejong City and a national responsibility that must be fulfilled. Together with Jeju, Gangwon, and Jeonbuk, we will unite based on the unique characteristics and missions of each region, and play a leading role in establishing a model for a decentralized nation.”