Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Era Committee Discusses Cooperation for Administrative Integration Initiative

Joint Meeting Held on the 21st
Reviewing Roles and Policy Support Directions

The Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Era Committee held a joint meeting on the 21st to discuss their roles and cooperation strategies in the process of promoting administrative integration between Gwangju and Jeonnam.

The Gwangju Regional Era Committee and the Jeonnam Regional Era Committee held the joint meeting that afternoon at the Seo Jae-pil Room of the Jeonnam Provincial Office. The chairpersons and members of both committees attended to share the current status of the Gwangju-Jeonnam administrative integration initiative and to review the role of the Regional Era Committees in the integration discussions.

Members of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Era Committee are taking a commemorative photo after the joint policy meeting held on the 21st at the Seo Jae-pil Room of the Jeonnam Provincial Office. Photo by Gwangju City

This meeting was organized to clarify the functions of the Regional Era Committees, which are responsible for local autonomy and balanced regional development, as administrative integration discussions progress, and to discuss future cooperation structures.

The two committees exchanged views on several key areas in the process of promoting administrative integration: policy review of the fundamental direction of integration; strategies to link regional strategic industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), energy, and culture; cooperation with the Presidential Regional Era Committee; and their roles in gathering public opinion and facilitating social dialogue.

They also discussed the policy advisory and coordination functions the Regional Era Committee could undertake, as well as methods of collaboration with related agencies, in the event that administrative integration discussions move into the institutional design stage.

During the meeting, a joint statement outlining the direction of cooperation in the Gwangju-Jeonnam administrative integration process was also announced. The joint statement included a commitment by both committees to continue working together throughout future integration discussions.

Jung Youngpal, Chairperson of the Gwangju Regional Era Committee, stated, "The Regional Era Committee is responsible for policy review and gathering opinions during the administrative integration discussions." Kim Eunsook, Chairperson of the Jeonnam Regional Era Committee, also remarked, "The role of the committee will become increasingly important as the administrative integration discussions become more concrete."

The Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Era Committee plans to continue joint discussions and participate in policy review and opinion gathering related to administrative integration going forward.