Democratic Party: "President Lee Promises Bold Support for Gwangju-South Jeolla Integration... Aiming to Pass Bill by February"

President Lee Holds Luncheon with Gwangju and South Jeolla Lawmakers
Promises Support for Fiscal Expansion, Public Institutions, and Industry
Gwangju and South Jeolla to Pursue Integration through Metropolitan Council Resolutions

After a luncheon between President Lee Jae-myung and lawmakers from Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, discussions on integration are set to accelerate. Lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea requested the formation of a special committee within the party to speed up integration talks and aim to process the matter at the plenary session next month. President Lee is reported to have promised special support.

On the afternoon of the 9th, Democratic Party lawmakers from Gwangju and South Jeolla Province held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center to share the details of their luncheon meeting with President Lee.

Kim Won-i, a Democratic Party lawmaker and head of the South Jeolla Provincial Party, stated, "President Lee and lawmakers from Gwangju and South Jeolla Province held a luncheon meeting today to discuss integration between the two regions," adding, "President Lee pledged bold and focused support for the development of the Honam region, including a significant expansion of fiscal support, relocation of public institutions, and assistance in attracting industries and companies, to the extent that a transformative leap forward for Honam would be possible in line with the integration discussions." Kim also said, "Lawmakers from Gwangju and South Jeolla Province expressed their support for integration, expecting that the Lee Jae-myung administration’s policies for the Honam region will serve as a major turning point for its development."

To implement integrated elections starting with the local elections in June, it was decided to pursue a process in which the Gwangju City Council and South Jeolla Provincial Council would each pass resolutions. In addition, explanatory sessions will be held to gather residents' opinions. The Democratic Party will also be asked to form a 'Gwangju-South Jeolla Integration Special Committee' to promote the integration. At the special committee level, discussions will be held on a special law for supporting the integrated metropolitan city.

For now, by the 15th, the government plans to announce support measures linked to the special law, and the Democratic Party also plans to hold a public hearing on integration and then propose a special bill.

President Lee Jae-myung listens to remarks from participants at the National Report Meeting on Economic Growth Strategy held at the Blue House on the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to lawmakers from Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, discussions on integration have made significant progress. Kim stated, "Although the name of the integrated city has not yet been decided regarding the integrated government complex, we have agreed not to use terms like 'Complex 1' and 'Complex 2', but instead refer to them as XX Muan Complex and Sangmu Complex. The plan to establish a national medical school in the South Jeolla region will also proceed as a national policy task." Regarding the rapid progress, Democratic Party lawmakers explained, "We have already gained experience through the Daejeon-South Chungcheong Province integration process, and in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, the mayors, governors, lawmakers, and the majority of city and provincial council members are all from the Democratic Party, which made this possible."

Yang Bunam, a Democratic Party lawmaker and head of the Gwangju City Party, commented on the future schedule, "After lawmakers hold a discussion on the bill drafted in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province before the 15th, a public hearing will take place on the 15th, and we plan to pass the bill around February."