Gwangju-Jeonnam Integration Speeds Up Again in Designing Special Provisions

Second Breakfast Meeting Held at National Assembly After One Week on January 21
Review of Key Special Provisions in the Special Act... Aiming for Passage in February

Discussions to enhance the completeness of the Special Act on Administrative Integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam have resumed at the National Assembly. The mayors and governors of Gwangju City and Jeonnam Province, along with local lawmakers, gathered again within a week to review key special provisions and legislative strategies.

On the morning of the 21st, at a breakfast meeting related to the Special Act on Administrative Integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam held at the National Assembly, Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, and Kang Gijeong, Mayor of Gwangju City, are seated side by side and speaking. Photo by Gwangju City

On the morning of January 21, Gwangju City and Jeonnam Province held the "Second Breakfast Meeting of Mayors, Governors, and Lawmakers to Review the Special Act on the Integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam" at the 2nd Seminar Room of the National Assembly Members’ Office Building. At the meeting, participants discussed special provisions and legislative strategies to enhance the effectiveness of the Special Act for the Establishment of Gwangju-Jeonnam Special City (tentative name), which would create an integrated metropolitan government.

The meeting was attended by Kang Kijeong, Mayor of Gwangju City, Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, senior officials from both city and province, Yang Bunam, Chair of the Gwangju City Chapter of the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Wonyi, Chair of the Jeonnam Provincial Chapter, 18 local lawmakers, and about 40 participants in total.

This breakfast meeting was convened just a week after the first meeting and public hearing held at the National Assembly on January 15. The swift reconvening of mayors, governors, and local lawmakers reflects their shared commitment to passing the special act during the February session of the National Assembly.

During the meeting, participants reviewed the details and application directions of the special provisions proposed at the first meeting. Taking into account the schedule for the 9th Nationwide Local Elections on June 3, they checked the legislative preparations with the goal of passing the special act at the National Assembly plenary session by the end of February.

The main special provisions discussed included mandatory financial support and financial exceptions, fostering the energy industry, prioritizing the designation of advanced strategic industry clusters, promoting artificial intelligence and mobility industries, special provisions for the culture and tourism industries, efficient use of space, and expansion of metropolitan transportation infrastructure. Including areas such as national defense, agriculture and fisheries, and relocation of public institutions, there are over 300 special provisions related to Gwangju and Jeonnam.

Kang Kijeong, Mayor of Gwangju City, stated, "This special act serves as the institutional foundation for Gwangju and Jeonnam to design their future together. Integration is only possible when practical special provisions tailored to local realities are included. We must demand local autonomy and integration incentives from the government, and focus on thoroughly reflecting these special provisions in the special act."

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, said, "Starting with Yeongam, we are holding public hearings across all 22 cities and counties. It is important to carefully incorporate opinions from the field into the special act."

Gwangju City and Jeonnam Province plan to continue consultations with the central government and the National Assembly, while also communicating with citizens and the local community to broaden consensus on administrative integration.