"The core of administrative integration is not a simple name change but bringing about real changes in authority, finances and services."
On the 15th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, lawmaker An Do-geol of the Democratic Party of Korea said in a keynote speech at a public hearing on promoting administrative integration for Gwangju and South Jeolla that "through administrative integration, it will be possible to expand the metropolitan transportation network, provide integrated medical, education, culture and welfare services, and simplify administrative procedures."
An said, "Gwangju–South Jeolla administrative integration is the starting point toward a bigger and more prosperous Honam," adding, "We should establish a special city, substantially transfer state affairs, and transform into a practical self-governing government that combines authority, finances and organization through autonomous organizational design and bold fiscal special cases."
He went on to say, "Through administrative integration, we will be able to tie industry, workforce, space and R&D into a single strategy and form a metropolitan growth axis with economies of scale and agglomeration effects."
Regarding concerns that rural and fishing communities could be marginalized by a city-centered integration, An said, "The key to administrative integration is to design the city and the countryside as a single living economic zone," adding, "Through a special law, we must clearly institutionalize the principles of balanced urban–rural development and the standards for fiscal allocation."
South Jeolla Gov. Kim Yung-rok raised his voice at the public hearing that day, saying the central government's firm execution of authority must be secured in the administrative integration process. Kim said, "In the process of promoting administrative integration, we need to win as many special cases as possible," adding, "But the ministries do not want to hand over authority. With President Lee Jae-myung backing this, we will have to break through the ministries' resistance."
Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung emphasized that in pushing quickly to complete administrative integration before the June local elections, the city and province must not neglect listening to residents' opinions. He said, "Through the public hearing on the special law for Gwangju–South Jeolla administrative integration, we will hear a range of opinions from residents," adding, "We have passed the first stage of consultations with the heads of metropolitan governments, and now it is time for the second stage of listening to residents' views. Starting next week, we plan to hold citizen public hearings in each city and province."
The Democratic Party plans to push administrative integration on a schedule of handling the special law on Gwangju–South Jeolla administrative integration in the National Assembly next month, electing the integrated local government head in the June 3 local elections, and launching the integrated special city on July 1.
The government will also release as early as tomorrow its plan for integrating Gwangju–South Jeolla and Daejeon–South Chungcheong. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok is scheduled to make the announcement himself. The plan is expected to include the central government's fiscal and administrative powers to be transferred to the integrated local governments.