'After Daejeon and Chungnam, Now Gwangju and Jeonnam?'... President Lee: "Region-Led Growth Is the Will of the People"

President Lee Jaemyung Delivers SNS Message on January 2
"It Seems Public Opinion Is Converging on Region-Led Growth"

Yonhap News

On January 2, President Lee Jaemyung commented on the discussions regarding the integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam, describing it as "the will of the people." With the local elections in June approaching, debates over regional integration appear to be gaining momentum.

On this day, President Lee posted on his social networking service (SNS) an article titled "After Daejeon and Chungnam, Now Gwangju and Jeonnam?" The post included a news article reporting that Gwangju and Jeonnam are discussing integration for the first time in 40 years since their separation.

President Lee emphasized, "The integration of metropolitan governments, which once seemed difficult, is gradually gaining speed," adding, "It appears that public opinion is converging on the need to overcome the dominance of the Seoul metropolitan area and to open a new path for 'region-led growth.'"

Kang Hoonshik, Chief Presidential Secretary, also appeared on the YouTube channel 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' and stated, "(Regional integration) is the right direction, and we should pursue it if possible," adding, "It seems likely that Gwangju and Jeonnam will declare their intention to integrate."

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung and Jeonnam Governor Kim Youngrok have expressed their commitment to integration ahead of the June local elections. At a press conference on December 30, Mayor Kang said, "The President seems to be sending a clear message that he wants to give an opportunity to Honam, and that we should be ready to accept it." Governor Kim also asserted, "Now is the optimal time for administrative integration between Gwangju and Jeonnam."

Meanwhile, the issue of administrative integration between Daejeon and Chungnam is also rapidly progressing. Discussions between the two regions began in November 2024 when Daejeon Mayor Lee Jangwoo and Chungnam Governor Kim Taeheum adopted a joint declaration. While the Democratic Party had initially opposed the idea, President Lee's positive response after taking office has accelerated the discussions.

At a town hall meeting in Chungnam on December 5 of last year, President Lee remarked, "From the perspective of someone responsible for state affairs, I am considering whether Chungnam and Daejeon could serve as a model for integration," and added, "Looking at global trends, metropolitan integration is the general path. Local regions will struggle to remain competitive if they are fragmented."