"Muan Peninsula Is the Answer": Mokpo Mayoral Hopeful Kang Seonghwi Makes Formal Integration Proposal

Proposal for Pre-Integration of Mokpo and Sinan Immediately After the Local Elections

Kang Seonghwi, preliminary candidate for mayor of Mokpo from the Democratic Party of Korea.

Kang Seonghwi, prospective candidate for Mokpo mayor from the Democratic Party of Korea, has formally proposed the concept of a "Muan Peninsula Integrated Special City," raising the need to reorganize administrative and industrial structures in the southwest region.

In a statement on the 26th, Kang stressed the need for integration of Mokpo, Muan, and Sinan, saying, "As the reorganization at the metropolitan level is becoming a reality with the upcoming passage of the Special Act on Jeonnam and Gwangju Special City in the National Assembly plenary session, the Muan Peninsula must not remain in a dispersed structure."

He said, "Competitiveness is maximized when Mokpo's port and downtown area, Muan's airport and hinterland, and Sinan's offshore wind power and marine resources are combined," adding, "We need to reorganize the Muan Peninsula into a single economic, living, and industrial zone."

He particularly argued that this should not be a simple administrative merger, but must be premised on designation as an "Integrated Special City." Kang said, "The area would be on a metropolitan scale, but fiscal self-reliance would still remain low," pointing out that "integration without authority only increases the burden."

Accordingly, he presented expansion of autonomy, drastic financial support, and the granting of special cases linked to national strategic industries as key conditions. He added that expansion of special provisions for local allocation tax, support from the national budget, a 20-year guarantee of rural and fishing village special provisions, and maintaining the current number of local council members should also be included.

Kang said, "Sinan's offshore wind power, the RE100 industrial belt, the national industrial complex, and port and airport infrastructure are core assets for Korea's energy and industrial transition," adding, "The Muan Peninsula Integrated Special City should become a new model for balanced national development."

He also proposed that "pre-integration of Mokpo and Sinan" be launched immediately after the local elections. He said, "While aiming for three-way integration, we cannot allow any further delay," and called for the immediate start of forming a joint working-level consultative body, gathering residents' opinions, and reviewing legal and administrative procedures.

He further said, "Let us push for a joint declaration on pre-integration by all Mokpo mayoral candidates," stressing that "integration is not an issue of political parties but a shared responsibility for the future of the southwest region."

Kang said, "Integration is not an administrative issue, but an issue of industry and self-reliance," adding, "We must expand the economic scale and strengthen the industrial base so that we can secure corresponding authority and finances." He went on to say, "Regardless of whether I am elected, I will immediately begin discussions on integration."