Governor Kim Youngrok and Mayors-Governors Council "Welcome Major Incentives for Special Integrated City"

Prime Minister Kim Minseok Announces 20 Trillion Won in Financial Support Over Four Years
Building a Model Case for Administrative Integration... Hopes for a Balanced Development Model

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, along with the Chairman of the Jeonnam Mayors and County Governors Council, is delivering a statement welcoming the promotion of administrative integration between Gwangju and Jeonnam at the '2026 Province-City-County Win-Win Cooperation Meeting' held on the 16th in the Wangin Room of the Provincial Office. Provided by Jeonnam Province

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, and the Jeonnam Mayors and County Governors Council announced on the 16th that they welcome the government's "four major incentives for the special integrated city, including 20 trillion won in financial support over four years."

On this day, Prime Minister Kim Minseok unveiled incentive measures to promote administrative integration, including: up to 5 trillion won per year and a maximum of 20 trillion won over four years in unprecedented financial support for the special integrated city; elevating the legal status of the special integrated city to a level comparable to Seoul Special City; granting priority to the special integrated city when relocating public institutions; and providing various forms of support to foster a business-friendly, start-up-centered city.

Governor Kim and others immediately issued a statement titled "Welcoming Prime Minister Kim Minseok's Announcement of Special Provisions to Support Administrative Integration" in the Wangin Room of the provincial government office, describing it as "a historic declaration that clearly demonstrates the firm commitment of the Lee Jaemyung administration to transition from a Seoul-centric system to a nation led by local regions."

They expressed their gratitude for the "groundbreaking financial support of 20 trillion won over four years," but also stated, "In order for administrative integration to yield tangible results that fundamentally transform the region, rather than remaining a mere declaration, we will work with the government to ensure a stable financial support system continues even after the initial four years."

Furthermore, they emphasized that since Jeonnam is geographically distant from the Seoul metropolitan area, has a low fiscal self-reliance ratio, and many of its regions are at risk of depopulation, they will strongly request the government to establish a balanced development fund that takes these factors into account.

Regarding the enhancement of the special integrated city's status, they plan to establish an administrative system based on institutional frameworks that ensures both expertise and accountability, and to prepare so that major policies can be smoothly implemented on the ground.

With regard to the preferential relocation of public institutions and the transfer of work from special local administrative agencies, they pledged to cooperate with the government to ensure that work from agencies such as the Small and Medium Business Administration, the Environmental Administration, and the Employment and Labor Administration is swiftly transferred. They also expressed their intention to actively consult with the government to ensure that special provisions for essential sectors-such as the energy industry, advanced strategic industries, the petrochemical and steel industries, and agriculture and fisheries-are included in the special law to promote regional growth.

In particular, in the energy sector, they aim to secure the authority to approve renewable energy projects, such as 50MW solar power generation projects, so that these can be implemented in accordance with local conditions. They also plan to actively pursue the creation of a future advanced national industrial complex aligned with RE100, covering approximately 1.2 million pyeong in the eastern region, in connection with administrative integration.

Governor Kim stated, "Jeonnam Province will work closely with the government to ensure the successful implementation of administrative integration and will communicate thoroughly with residents to create a model case for administrative integration. We hope that this announcement of special support provisions for administrative integration will serve as a new starting point for locally driven growth. Jeonnam Province will dedicate itself to this path with a sense of responsibility."