Governor Jintae Kim: "The Five Poles and Three Specials Must Advance Together... Calls to Prevent Reverse Discrimination Against Gangwon"

Gangwon Province Holds Consultation with Ministry of the Interior and Safety on Regional Issues
Calls for Swift Passage of the Third Amendment to the Gangwon Special Act
Proposes Key Issues Including National Funding for Northward Shift of the C

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province has strongly requested active support from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to ensure that the province is not marginalized within the government's "Five Poles, Three Specials" balanced regional development framework.

Jintae Kim, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, held a meeting with senior officials from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, who are from the province, in Sejong City on the 22nd. Provided by Gangwon Province

On January 22 in Sejong City, Jintae Kim, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, held a meeting with senior officials from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety who hail from the province. They discussed key local issues, including the prompt passage of the third amendment to the Gangwon Special Act and securing national funding for the northward shift of the Civilian Control Line (CCL).

During the meeting, Governor Kim expressed concern about the recent acceleration of discussions on administrative integration in regions such as Gwangju-Jeonnam and Daejeon-Chungnam (the "Five Poles" system). He stated, "Regions like Gangwon, Jeju, and Jeonbuk, which have already launched and even proposed a third amendment as part of the 'Three Specials,' are now at risk of reverse discrimination due to the broader trend of administrative integration." He emphasized, "The Five Poles and Three Specials must be pursued in parallel as the two pillars of national balanced development."

In particular, the third amendment to the Gangwon Special Act has completed inter-ministerial consultations on approximately 29 out of 40 legislative tasks. The province requested that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety establish a 'principle of fair resource allocation' to ensure that incentives such as fiscal support through grants and the priority relocation of public institutions are not concentrated in specific areas.

Regarding the long-standing issue of easing military restrictions in border areas, the province also called for concrete support measures. It noted that the northward shift of the CCL, covering a total of 23.3 square kilometers in areas such as Dutayeon in Yanggu and near the Unification Observatory in Goseong, is currently being promoted under "conditional acceptance." The province stressed the urgent need for national funding to relocate and supplement military boundary facilities.

Currently, these areas require the reinforcement of military facilities in advance for the actual lifting of restrictions to take effect. Governor Kim explained, "Financial support from the government is essential for the easing of military restrictions to lead to regional economic revitalization."

Additionally, the province proposed that prior consultation with local governments be made a legal requirement when the central government decides on policies that impose fiscal burdens on localities. This measure aims to prevent increased local financial burdens resulting from government policies and to realize genuine fiscal decentralization.

The meeting was attended by Governor Jintae Kim, Director Park Cheonsu from Hongcheon, Senior Expert Kim Kyungchan, and other key officials from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as well as Mayor Kim Hongkyu of Gangneung, Mayor Sim Gyueon of Donghae, and Mayor Park Sangsu of Samcheok. The discussion focused on preventing reverse discrimination arising from the promotion of administrative integration, the prompt passage of the special act amendment, securing national funding for military boundary facilities in connection with the northward shift of the CCL, and making prior consultation mandatory when the government pursues policies that increase local fiscal burdens.

Governor Jintae Kim stated, "It is a great source of strength that officials from our province are steadfastly supporting us at the central level," adding, "The Gangwon Special Act, which was proposed two years ago, is not only facing delays but is also being sidelined by the broader trend of administrative integration."

He continued, "The Five Poles and Three Specials must be promoted together," and requested, "I ask for active understanding and support within the Ministry of the Interior and Safety for the Gangwon issues discussed today."