Gyeongnam Governor Park Wansu: "Metropolitan Integration Must Be Decided by Resident Referendum"

"The integration of metropolitan local governments must be decided by a resident referendum."

On December 29, Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province addressed the issue of administrative integration between Busan and Gyeongnam at the last department and bureau heads meeting of the year, emphasizing that 'democratic legitimacy' should be the top priority in the integration process.

Gyeongnam Province Governor Park Wansu is leading the meeting of department and bureau heads. Provided by Gyeongnam Province

At the meeting, Governor Park stated, "The integration of metropolitan local governments is unprecedented in the history of local autonomy in South Korea," adding, "It must be pursued with caution, and the opinions of local residents must be respected throughout the process."

He continued, "If the central government or politicians unilaterally decide on administrative integration through a top-down approach, it will be difficult to deal with the aftereffects, trial and error, and conflicts that may arise later." He stressed, "To minimize conflicts during the process and post-implementation trial and error, the final decision must be made through a resident referendum that reflects the will of the citizens of both cities and provinces."

He also said, "We must closely examine the process of gathering resident opinions through the currently operating Public Discussion Committee, and complete a 'bottom-up' integration model based on the choices of local residents, not led by the central government or political circles."

Governor Park has consistently emphasized that the ultimate decision on administrative integration with Busan should be made by the citizens of both regions, and that a resident referendum is essential to secure the identity of the integration.

Currently, Gyeongnam and Busan, centered around the Administrative Integration Public Discussion Committee, have been holding regional forums and explanatory sessions since July in four locations each in Busan and Gyeongnam-eight locations in total-to explain the background and necessity of administrative integration and to gather opinions from experts and citizens of both regions.

The Public Discussion Committee plans to prepare a basic draft reflecting resident opinions by the end of this year, and will submit a report to Gyeongnam Province and Busan City that includes the results of deliberative forums by region and public opinion surveys with equal participation from residents of each area.

Afterward, if the majority of citizens in both Gyeongnam and Busan express positive support for administrative integration in the resident referendum, the two local governments plan to accelerate the push for integration.