Ensuring Successful Administrative Integration...
Efforts to Build Public Consensus
Calls for Swift Enactment of the 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration Special Act' Based on the 'Five Core, Three Special' Strategy
Gwangju Seo-gu Council, led by Councilor Lim Seonghwa, passes a resolution supporting the 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration' reflecting the empathy and aspirations of the citizens. Provided by Gwangju Seo-gu Council
On January 16, the Gwangju Seo-gu Council announced a resolution supporting the 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration,' reflecting the empathy and aspirations of the citizens, during the 1st plenary session of the 337th extraordinary meeting. Assemblywoman Lim Seonghwa served as the lead sponsor of the resolution.
As the principal sponsor, Assemblywoman Lim stated, "The 'Joint Declaration on Promoting the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Local Government' is an inevitable choice for survival as an economic and administrative community in the face of the crisis of regional extinction, and a decisive step toward sustainable development."
Assemblywoman Lim also stressed, "The Gwangju Seo-gu Council fully supports the direction of this administrative integration aimed at enhancing regional competitiveness, and we hope that it will be pursued based on a solid foundation of public consensus and trust."
The entire Gwangju Seo-gu Council called for: ▲ recognition of the fundamental legitimacy and active support for the Gwangju-Jeonnam administrative integration ▲ active efforts to build public consensus for the successful settlement of the integration ▲ ensuring the autonomy of basic local governments during the integration process ▲ and the swift enactment of the 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration Special Act' based on the 'Five Core, Three Special' strategy.
Assemblywoman Lim concluded the announcement by saying, "We hope this administrative integration will serve as a platform for the coexistence and advancement of the local community, and we will strive to realize a true integration that fully reflects the will of the residents."
Meanwhile, discussions on the 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration' began on January 2, when Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung and South Jeolla Province Governor Kim Youngrok officially declared the launch of the integration initiative at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery. On January 5, each region established an 'Administrative Integration Promotion Planning Team' and began their work.
On January 12, Gwangju Metropolitan City held a meeting on the 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration,' attended by Mayor Kang Gijung and the chairpersons of the Dong, Seo, Nam, Buk, and Gwangsan district councils, and adopted a joint declaration for successful integration under the tentative name 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Special City.' On January 13, the Gwangju Metropolitan Council also formed a 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration Response Task Force' and held its first meeting.
On the same day, the Office of the Prime Minister announced that groundbreaking incentives would be provided to local residents upon integration of the local governments.
Specifically, these include: ▲ financial support (up to 5 trillion won per year, up to 20 trillion won over four years) ▲ enhanced status (granting a status and authority equivalent to that of Seoul, increased autonomy in personnel management, etc.) ▲ priority relocation of public institutions (including the transfer of work from national special local administrative agencies) ▲ and industrial revitalization (strengthened support to become a startup-friendly city and regulatory improvements).
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