The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on the 6th that it held the "Jeonnam-Gwangju integrated special city launch preparation meeting" together with South Jeolla Province and Gwangju.
The meeting was a follow-up measure to the proclamation of the special law to establish the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City. It was the first official meeting bringing together the pan-government local administrative system reform support team within the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) and the vice heads of Gwangju and South Jeolla, as well as the integrated task force. Vice Minister Kim Min-jae presided.
At the meeting, the government shared a step-by-step implementation plan (road map) for the launch of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City on July 1 this year. It also explained the establishment of the launch preparation body and plans for integrating information systems, which are central to the preparation process, and asked the two jurisdictions for cooperation.
South Jeolla and Gwangju conveyed their views on the current state of preparation, future plans, and items requiring government-level support.
The government and local authorities plan to follow tailored preparatory procedures by period with a goal of launching in July. Before the June 3 local elections, they will enact enforcement decrees related to the integrated special law and, under sector-specific guidelines, push ahead with key launch procedures such as integrating organizations, finances, and autonomous regulations.
After the local elections and until the launch, they plan to pass essential local government ordinance bills at the first provisional session formed after the elections and sequentially integrate and open services, focusing on public-facing services and major administrative systems.
The government will set up a dedicated department within the pan-government local administrative system reform support team to help the two jurisdictions complete the integration procedures.
Vice Minister Kim Min-jae said, "This first-ever integration between metropolitan local governments in South Korean history is expected to be a starting point for overcoming the existing capital area-centered, single-core structure and achieving region-led growth," adding, "We will concentrate all government capabilities to ensure the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City can launch successfully and stably."