Kang Gijeong: "I Am 100% Confident in the Election of the Unified Head on June 3, Not Just 99%"

At the January 5 Press Briefing, Mayor Kang Stresses Irreversibility of Integration
"Now Is the Opportunity?We Need the Courage to Take an Uncharted Path"

"I am confident that the election of the integrated local government head on June 3 will not be 99% certain, but 100% certain."

Kang Gijeong, Mayor of Gwangju, who has been accelerating the administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeollanam-do since the start of the new year, reiterated his strong commitment to a swift process, emphasizing the irreversibility of the integration schedule. In his first New Year's meeting with reporters at Gwangju City Hall on January 5, Mayor Kang asserted, "When an opportunity arises, we must not hesitate," declaring that the integrated local government head will be elected in the upcoming June 3 local elections.

Kang Gijeong, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City. Provided by Gwangju City

Regarding the name of the integrated administrative municipality, Mayor Kang stated, "Jeonnam Special City could be one option, and the name Gwangju also carries significant historical and symbolic meaning." However, he added, "It is premature to begin the discussion with what the name should be at this critical moment when we must seize the opportunity for administrative integration," emphasizing, "What matters is not the name, but whether we make the decision now." He stressed that the discussion on administrative integration should not be limited to the name or other secondary conditions, and that it would be more appropriate to discuss the name at a suitable time after the integration process has advanced to a certain stage.

He also dismissed the suggestion that a citizen opinion-gathering process is necessary. Mayor Kang said, "The Promotion and Communication Team within the Integration Promotion Planning Group, as well as all departments of City Hall, will comprehensively gather opinions from civil society," and added, "The process of gathering opinions itself will not become an obstacle to integration." This reaffirms his existing stance that delays in integration are not fundamentally due to public opinion or lack of practical preparation.

Regarding the luncheon meeting scheduled for January 9 with President Lee Jaemyung and National Assembly members from the Gwangju and Jeollanam-do regions, he said, "We are carefully considering what to request from the Blue House," and added, "Through dialogue, the government's willingness and direction of support will become clearer." He has consistently identified the central government's commitment as the biggest variable in the administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeollanam-do.

Mayor Kang also made clear requests regarding the role of the National Assembly. He said, "The special law on the administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeollanam-do should be handled as a fast-track bill in the National Assembly," and added, "The Democratic Party's city and provincial committees should take the lead in proposing the special law and quickly adopt it as the party line." He continued, "Once the special law is passed and the integrated local government head is elected in the local elections, the remaining issues can be resolved under the leadership of the integrated head," and added, "There will be no fundamental obstacles to administrative integration."

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong and Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Youngrok are announcing the "Joint Declaration for the Promotion of Integrated Local Government" after a joint visit to the National 5.18 Democratic Cemetery on the 2nd. Photo by Gwangju City

Mayor Kang's remarks are in line with the "Joint Declaration for the Promotion of Grand Integration of Gwangju and Jeollanam-do," which he announced together with Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Youngrok on January 2. Through the joint declaration, the two local governments agreed to elect the integrated local government head in the June local elections this year and to launch the integrated special autonomous municipality on July 1.

Meanwhile, during the first regular meeting of the year held at City Hall on the morning of January 5, Mayor Kang once again emphasized his commitment to promoting the administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeollanam-do. He said, "Some say the integration is sudden, but this is a long-standing issue that has been discussed for 30 years since 1995," and added, "In the past, there was a lack of momentum, but now, with the government's full support, Jeollanam-do's proactive proposal, and Gwangju's determination, this is a completely new challenge."

Mayor Kang compared Gwangju to a "first penguin," saying, "Gwangju has always been the first city to dive into uncertainty in the fields of democracy, artificial intelligence, welfare, and crisis response," and emphasized, "The administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeollanam-do must also become the first case of region-led growth and national balanced development." He added, "Just as the saying goes, 'You must row when the water comes in,' now is the opportunity," and concluded, "What is ultimately needed for this uncharted path of administrative integration is courage."