Moonin, Mayor of Buk-gu, Gwangju: "Gwangju and Jeonnam Must Achieve Competitiveness Through Administrative Integration"

Moonin, Mayor of Buk-gu, Gwangju.

Moonin, Mayor of Buk-gu, Gwangju, who is preparing to run for Gwangju Mayor next year, emphasized the need to expedite the administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam based on the 'Five Pillars and Three Specialties' strategy.

On December 19, Mayor Moon wrote on his social media, "The administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam is an inevitable national task and a responsibility of our era," adding, "We can no longer remain competitive if we continue to operate like a 'three-legged race' where two people are tied together by one ankle each."

He continued, "To address population decline, deteriorating quality of life, and worsening regional imbalance caused by the overconcentration in the capital area, we must combine Gwangju's outstanding technology and talent with Jeonnam's abundant power supply and industrial land." He stressed, "This is the only way for Gwangju and Jeonnam to establish themselves as a core hub for advanced industries."

He also noted, "Gwangju and Jeonnam share a single living and economic zone, interconnected across all areas including jobs, education, healthcare, culture, and transportation," and evaluated, "Administrative integration will serve as a platform to accelerate stagnant regional development and mark a new starting point."

In addition, he stated, "Now that the central government is firmly committed to supporting this, we must not hesitate to pursue not just the Gwangju-Jeonnam Special Metropolitan Union, but full administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam." He added, "Gwangju City, Jeonnam Province, the local political community, and civil society must participate in discussions and establish a practical roadmap for implementation."