Democratic Party Launches Special Committee for Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration; Kim Won-yi and Yang Bunam Appointed Co-Chairs

Formation of Dedicated Party Bodies and Legislative Support Task Force Signals Start of Integration Discussions
Party-Level Backing Follows Joint Statement by Kang Gijeong and Kim Youngrok
Special Act Initiative Gains Traction with National Assembly Meeting and Public Hearing on January 15

The Democratic Party of Korea has officially launched an internal body dedicated to discussions on the administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam.

According to the political community on January 12, the Democratic Party formed the Special Committee for Promoting Gwangju-Jeonnam Integration and the Legislative Support Task Force for Administrative Integration at its Supreme Council meeting that day. This move is intended to support the Gwangju-Jeonnam administrative integration initiative being pursued by the Lee Jae-myung administration at the party level.

On the 9th, at a luncheon meeting presided over by President Lee Jae-myung held at the Blue House, attendees took a commemorative photo after discussions related to the administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam. Photo provided by Gwangju City

The Special Committee for Promoting Gwangju-Jeonnam Integration will be responsible for handling the discussions on the administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam, which began in earnest after the luncheon meeting between President Lee and lawmakers from the Honam region. The committee will be co-chaired by Kim Won-yi, head of the Jeonnam Provincial Party, and Yang Bunam, head of the Gwangju City Party.

The Legislative Support Task Force for Administrative Integration will be in charge of legislative support at the National Assembly level. Policy Committee Chair Han Jeongae will serve as the head, overseeing the coordination and promotion of related bills, including the special law on administrative integration. Lawmakers from the National Assembly's Education Committee, Public Administration and Security Committee, and Planning and Finance Committee will participate.

The Democratic Party will simultaneously support discussions on regional integration, including the Gwangju-Jeonnam administrative integration, through both its organizational structure and legislative efforts.

Meanwhile, Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong and Jeonnam Governor Kim Youngrok reached an agreement to pursue the Gwangju-Jeonnam administrative integration and announced a joint statement immediately after the luncheon meeting presided over by President Lee Jae-myung.

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

On January 9, the two leaders held a briefing for city and provincial residents at the Kim Daejung Convention Center in Seo-gu, Gwangju. They agreed to include financial support and the transfer of administrative authority in the special law on administrative integration, and to cooperate on establishing a fund for balanced development across the 27 cities, counties, and districts of Gwangju and Jeonnam. Even after the integration, Gwangju's five autonomous districts and Jeonnam's 22 cities and counties will maintain their current basic local government structure, while the status of the integrated metropolitan local government will be promoted as a "special city."

Gwangju City and Jeonnam Province, together with the two education offices, plan to prepare a legislative bill on administrative integration and hold a meeting with National Assembly members on January 15. The Democratic Party will also hold a party-level public hearing on administrative integration on the same day, and Prime Minister Kim Minseok's announcement regarding special provisions is scheduled for January 15 or 16. Mayor Kang stated that the administrative integration bill is expected to be submitted on January 16, while Governor Kim said that the goal is to pass the "Special Act on Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration" by the end of February.