Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry: "Securing Future Competitiveness Through Administrative Integration... Expecting Government Support"

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong (left) and Jeonnam Governor Kim Youngrok are taking a commemorative photo after announcing the "Joint Statement for the Launch of the Metropolitan Local Government" at the Gwangju Kim Daejung Convention Center on the 9th. Photo by Song Bohyun

The Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated that the administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam is essential for the survival of the region and for securing its future competitiveness, expressing hope for groundbreaking support from the government.

On January 9, the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a statement, saying, "We highly appreciate the President's promise of groundbreaking support for the administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam, and we actively welcome the swift progress of this integration."

The Chamber explained, "Currently, the Gwangju and Jeonnam region faces complex crises such as population decline, weakening industrial base, and decreasing fiscal self-reliance, which have reached structural limitations that cannot be overcome by the efforts of individual local governments alone. The discussion on administrative integration is not a matter of choice, but a historical imperative for the survival of the region and securing its future competitiveness."

It continued, "If administrative integration is realized, Gwangju and Jeonnam will be able to firmly establish a foundation for job creation and sustainable growth in the region by fostering advanced industries such as artificial intelligence, energy, and future mobility; attracting large-scale national infrastructure projects; efficiently building metropolitan transportation and logistics systems; and substantially strengthening administrative and fiscal authority." The Chamber explained, "For the success of administrative integration, it is essential to ensure the actual transfer of authority, rather than a mere formal integration."

Additionally, the Chamber stated, "A special law must be enacted to boldly transfer central government authority in fiscal, administrative, and industrial sectors, and the support promised by the government must be institutionally guaranteed. The integrated local government should be able to design regional development strategies based on autonomy and responsibility."

In conclusion, the Chamber added, "We will actively cooperate so that the administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam can become a model case for balanced national development, based on the government's full support."