Gwangju City and City Council Share Roadmap for Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration Special Law

Over 40 Participants Including Kang Gijeong and Shin Sujeong Attend Meeting
Launch of Promotion Council and Enactment of Special Law
Shared Goal of Passing National Assembly in February

Gwangju Metropolitan City and the Gwangju City Council held a meeting on the theme of 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration,' sharing the roadmap for the future, including the enactment of a special law and the establishment of a joint consultative body.

Kang Gijeong, mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, is holding a meeting with city council members on the morning of the 6th in the main conference room of the Gwangju City Council to discuss the progress of administrative integration between Gwangju and Jeonnam. Provided by Gwangju City

On January 6, Gwangju Metropolitan City hosted the 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration Gwangju City Council Members Meeting' in the main conference room of the City Council. The meeting was attended by Kang Gijeong, Mayor of Gwangju; Shin Sujeong, Chairperson of the Gwangju City Council; city council members; Kim Youngmoon, Vice Mayor for Culture and Economy and Head of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration Planning Team; as well as about 40 other officials, including directors and department heads.

Yoon Changmo, Director of Policy Planning, explained the background, progress, and future plans for administrative integration. This was followed by a Q&A session and further discussions.

During the meeting, participants shared the step-by-step roadmap for administrative integration, including the enactment of a special law as the legal basis, the launch of the 'Administrative Integration Promotion Council'-a public-private joint body to be formed by Gwangju and Jeonnam-and the steps leading up to the establishment of the unified local government.

The draft of the special law is expected to include: ▲ the establishment and support of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Special City; ▲ the transfer of central administrative authority; ▲ the creation of a metropolitan living zone; ▲ the strengthening of local autonomy; and ▲ the development of foundations in energy, AI, and culture. The plan is to finalize a single proposal through consultations with Jeonnam Province, reflecting the unique characteristics of both regions.

Gwangju City and Jeonnam Province will work together to gather opinions from their respective city and provincial councils, aiming for passage in the National Assembly in February. Once the special law is enacted, the head of the unified local government will be elected through local elections, and the official launch of the integrated government will proceed.

On the morning of the 6th, at the Gwangju City Council's main conference room, Mayor Kang Gijeong of Gwangju and Chairman Shin Sujeong, along with city council members, are engaged in discussions during the 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration Gwangju City Council Members Meeting.' Photo by Song Bohyun

Administrative integration is a national-level initiative aimed at addressing local population decline and the concentration of resources in the Seoul metropolitan area, and is being promoted as part of the 'Five Major Regions and Three Special Zones' strategy.

The Gwangju-Jeonnam administrative integration was officially announced on January 2, when Kang Gijeong, Mayor of Gwangju, and Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam, issued a joint declaration at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery. On January 5, both Gwangju and Jeonnam launched their respective integration planning teams.

The Gwangju Administrative Integration Planning Team is headed by the Vice Mayor for Culture and Economy and is organized into two divisions and four teams (Planning, Support, Legal Affairs, and Public Relations). The team is responsible for practical tasks such as drafting the special law and forming the administrative integration promotion council.

Chairperson Shin Sujeong stated, "Administrative integration should be pursued with a sense of urgency, and it is the direction that Gwangju and Jeonnam must take together. Please also focus on building public consensus so that citizens can understand the integration process."

Mayor Kang Gijeong said, "It is necessary to explain how administrative integration will change people's lives. As soon as the promotion council finalizes the details, we will move forward promptly."