Gwangju and Jeonnam Initiate Preparations for Integrated Metropolitan Government
A working group comprising both public and private sectors has been formed to facilitate the launch of South Korea’s first integrated metropolitan local government. The inaugural meeting of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration Promotion Council took place on the 12th at the Jeonnam Research Institute in Naju, attended by Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung and Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok.
Following the passing of the “Special Act for the Establishment of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City” by the National Assembly, the province announced on the 2nd that it will begin establishing a preparation system for balanced development and fostering future industries across 27 cities, counties, and districts.
The special legislation comprises 5 parts and 13 chapters, totaling over 413 articles. It incorporates 19 regional special measures, fully or partially. Once the government processes, such as delivery to the executive branch, cabinet meeting approval, and proclamation, are completed, the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City will be launched on July 1. The first unified city municipal head will be elected in the June 3 local elections.
With President Lee Jae-myung’s strong support for the integration of Jeonnam and Gwangju, the executive approval and proclamation processes are anticipated to proceed smoothly.
To ensure the stable execution of the administrative integration, the existing Administrative Integration Promotion Planning Group will be restructured into the Administrative Integration Working Preparation Group. This group, working jointly with Gwangju, will start detailing execution plans for organizational, financial, and administrative integration.
From this month, related organizations will be expanded and reorganized into formal national-level entities to systematically prepare for the transfer of authority from the central government and institutional adjustments. Efforts will also be focused on enacting implementing ordinances for the special law, creating detailed execution plans for the provisions and special measures included in the legislation, and incrementally establishing the institutional foundation needed for the launch of the special city, through drafting ordinances and refining the administrative system for each sector.
The region’s industrial strategy will also proceed, with a specialized task force recently formed to attract businesses to the Special City. Tailored strategies for attraction will be formulated, and implementation tasks for infrastructure expansion will be progressively carried out.
Particularly, the “Y4-nomics” vision will be realized around four major areas: the Gwangju region, the western region, the eastern region, and the southern region. Efforts will focus on strengthening competitiveness in future high-tech industries, along with agriculture, fisheries, livestock, and cultural tourism.
The province will also examine the possibility of relocating and attracting major public institutions such as the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, Korea District Heating Corporation, and Korea Racing Authority, to enhance industrial infrastructure and invigorate the regional economy.
Furthermore, preparations for the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, the first international event after integration, will be systematically supported, with related procedures gradually advanced for the bid to host the 2028 G20 Summit.
A cultural and artistic hub will be developed centered around the Asia Culture Center in Gwangju, with plans to attract the Gwangju branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, build a Peace Museum, and establish creative residency spaces.
Additionally, the province aims to establish a balanced financial operational system to prevent concentration in specific areas by drafting concrete operational plans for the Balanced Development Fund. Basic incomes in agriculture and fisheries, energy, and births will be examined for financial feasibility and institutional validity, with step-by-step promotion plans to be developed.
A provincial official stated, “We will ensure the stable launch of the integrated special city by smoothly proceeding with the follow-up procedures prompted by the special law’s enactment, paying close attention to administrative preparations.”