Representative Ahn Ho-young of the Democratic Party (center) holds a press conference on the integration of Jeonju and Wanju at the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Provincial Council on the 2nd. From the left are Representative Chung Dong-young and Representative Lee Seong-yoon. (Jeonju = Yonhap News) by Lim Chae-doo.
Upon the sudden declaration by Representative Ahn Ho-young, who has been opposed to the administrative integration of Jeonju and Wanju, to push forward with the integration, Jeonju city and the Jeonju City Council expressed their welcoming stance.
Immediately following Ahn’s press conference, Jeonju City released a statement saying, “We welcome Representative Ahn’s decision along with the 630,000 citizens of Jeonju,” emphasizing that “the integration of Wanju and Jeonju is a mission of our times that transcends administrative district merging in the face of the crisis of local extinction, enhancing the future competitiveness of Jeonbuk and laying a new foundation for balanced regional development.”
They further stressed, “With the government declaring wide-area integration as a national survival strategy and formalizing broad incentives, the situation leaves no room for hesitation, and the political leaders’ clear expression of intent to integrate injects strong momentum into the integration discussions.”
The city stated, “Jeonju places the highest value on coexistence with Wanju County as the foremost priority of integration. We will ensure to uphold the 105 strategical coexistence plans and make administrative and policy efforts for joint advancement.” They added, “We earnestly hope the central government, political circles, and the local community will expand consensus with residents and continue reasonable and definite integration discussions.”
The Jeonju City Council also issued a statement welcoming the move, stating, “The integration of Wanju and Jeonju, which already function as a single living zone, is a crucial requirement for Jeonbuk to emerge as a self-sustaining core base, one of the key goals of the ‘three special frameworks.'” They expressed hope that Representative Ahn’s announcement would expand public discourse on Wanju-Jeonju integration and encourage regional politics to choose the future.
They further appealed for “Wanju County and the Wanju County Council to make every administrative effort from a grand perspective to ensure the integration takes place.”