Accelerating Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration... Civil-Military Airport Relocation Agreement Remains Uncertain

Kwangguk Na Secures Clear Commitment on Inheritance of Obligations by Integrated Local Government

Kwangguk Na, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member

At a meeting between the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly and the Jeonnam Provincial Government held in the Choui Room of the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly to discuss the administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam, Kwangguk Na, a Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member (Democratic Party of Korea, Muan 2), was the first to receive a clear commitment from Governor Kim Yungrok that the responsibility for implementing the existing agreement on airport relocation would be fully inherited by the integrated city government.

During the meeting, Assemblyman Na pointed out, "There are concerns among Muan residents that, with the administrative integration, Gwangju, which is a direct party to the airport relocation agreement, will become a local government on par with Jeonnam, potentially leading to changes in the agreement or a reduction in the scale of support."

In reality, there have been concerns that, if Gwangju and Jeonnam become a single local government, it would be difficult to implement the agreements reached by the six-party consultative body-which included Gwangju City, Jeonnam Province, and Muan County-on matters ranging from Gwangju's 150 billion won share of the 1 trillion won support fund, to the establishment of advanced industrial bases such as the energy new industry and the aviation MRO center, as well as other groundbreaking incentive support measures.

Assemblyman Na proposed to Governor Kim Yungrok, "Even after the integration, the responsibilities and obligations of Gwangju City should be inherited by the integrated Gwangju-Jeonnam local government, and if necessary, this should be clearly stipulated in writing to ensure the continuation of the agreement."

He added, "I believe this administrative integration is a process to institutionally complete the trust built between Gwangju and Jeonnam through the airport relocation agreement. As a provincial assembly member representing Muan, I urge that the discussions on the integrated relocation of both the civil and military airports and the administrative integration be connected and completed as a single project."

Governor Kim responded, "If the responsibilities and obligations agreed upon by the six-party consultative body are not inherited, administrative integration cannot be achieved. Beyond simply stipulating them in writing, we need to make efforts to ensure that the compensation for the integrated relocation of the civil and military airports is reflected in the national plan through substantive legislation."

Assemblyman Na stated, "I believe it is the duty of an assembly member representing the residents to address Muan residents' concerns about the implementation of the airport relocation agreement, which has become uncertain due to the sudden discussions on administrative integration. I will continue to do my best to ensure that the integrated relocation of the civil and military airports becomes a turning point for the mutual growth and development of not only Muan but also Gwangju and Jeonnam."