Gwangju and Jeonnam Join Hands for "Mutual Growth"... Establishing a Joint Administrative System

Participation in the "Five Major Regions and Three Special Zones National Balanced Development Strategy"
Special Local Government Aiming for Launch by Year-End
Joint Promotion Team Formed
Preparations Underway for Organization and Finance
First Joint Project: Gwangju-Naju Metropolitan Railway Agreement
Kang Gijung: "Opening a New Future Together"
Kim Youngrok: "Special Local Government to Lead National Balanced Development"

Gwangju City and Jeonnam Province held the "Gwangju-Jeonnam Special Local Government Promotion Declaration Ceremony" on the 27th at the main conference room of Naju City Hall. Photo by Shim Jinseok

Gwangju Metropolitan City and Jeonnam Province have agreed to pursue a shared goal under the driving force of "national balanced development."

On August 27, Gwangju City and Jeonnam Province held the "Gwangju-Jeonnam Special Local Government Promotion Declaration Ceremony" at the main conference room of Naju City Hall and signed a joint agreement.

The event was attended by Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung, Jeonnam Governor Kim Youngrok, Gwangju City Council Chairperson Shin Sujeong, Jeonnam Provincial Council Chairperson Kim Taegyun, and Kim Kyungsoo, Chairperson of the Committee for the Local Era, who all expressed their commitment to mutual growth and development.

The two local governments decided to establish a joint administrative system in line with the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's "Five Major Regions and Three Special Zones National Balanced Development Strategy," in response to the national challenges of increasing concentration in the capital area and the risk of local extinction.

Through the agreement, they consented to establish a special local government (tentatively named "Gwangju-Jeonnam Special Metropolitan Union") and will form the "Gwangju-Jeonnam Joint Promotion Team" to systematically prepare for its launch by the end of this year.

The Joint Promotion Team will be responsible for all preliminary preparations for establishing the special local government, including its operation (organization, finance, annual work plans), identifying joint super-regional tasks and state-delegated affairs, establishing an assembly, and drafting regulations.

The joint affairs of the special local government will focus on industries such as industry, transportation, and tourism, with priority given to projects that serve the shared interests of both regions and address urgent issues to ensure a swift launch.

As their first joint project, the two local governments selected the "Gwangju-Naju Metropolitan Railway Project" and signed a business agreement among Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Naju. They plan to finalize the route agreement by September and will work closely together to jointly respond to the central government and the National Assembly.

In particular, the three local governments will continue discussions with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport with the goal of including the metropolitan railway in the "5th National Rail Network Construction Plan" within this year, to expedite construction and ensure sustainable development in the Honam region.

They also agreed to work closely together on establishing the special local government, securing state funding, building a financial foundation, and responding to government policy and legislative processes. Based on the successful experience of super-regional cooperation, they plan to seek ways to integrate the administrations of Gwangju and Jeonnam in the future.

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung stated, "The Gwangju-Jeonnam Special Local Government is a historic starting point for opening new growth opportunities for both regions. Jeonnam must grow for Gwangju to grow, and super-regional cooperation is not a choice but a matter of survival. Together with 3.2 million residents and the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, we will open a new era for a revitalized Korea through balanced national development."

Jeonnam Governor Kim Youngrok said, "Jeonnam and Gwangju share inseparable roots, and through the Gwangju-Jeonnam Special Local Government, we will make a new leap forward as one community. Honam will become the new central axis of Korea, leading the Five Major Regions and Three Special Zones National Balanced Development Strategy and opening a future where we are the true drivers of national growth."

Kim Kyungsoo, Chairperson of the Committee for the Local Era, remarked, "This declaration ceremony is not just a statement of cooperation between two regions, but a historic moment that sets a new milestone for balanced development in Korea. Our greatest mission is to create an environment where young people in Gwangju and Jeonnam can learn, work, build families, and pursue their dreams in their own region. We will provide active support until the launch of the special local government in December so that the achievements of balanced national development translate into tangible results."