The Jeonnam-Gwangju administrative integration special city, which combines South Jeolla Province and Gwangju, officially launched on the 1st. With Gwangju and South Jeolla unified for the first time in 40 years, an ultra-wide autonomous local government was formed with a population of about 3.17 million and the nation's No. 3 gross regional domestic product (GRDP). The abbreviation is "Gwangju Special City."
Under the special law on administrative integration, Gwangju Special City has legal status comparable to Seoul Special City. Min Hyung-bae, the inaugural Gwangju special mayor, will receive Minister-level protocol and the authority to attend Cabinet meetings. Some key powers, including the authority to designate free economic zones and to approve large development projects, will be transferred in stages.
Administrative integration incentives of 20 trillion won promised by the central government and the semiconductor cluster investment plans of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are expected to become a springboard for Gwangju Special City's growth.
In his inaugural address that day, Min Hyung-bae said, "We will concentrate all our capabilities to build semiconductor plants as quickly as possible so that they bear fruit within President Lee Jae-myung's term," adding, "We will create a structure in which young people do not leave their hometowns and regional universities and industries grow together."
That day, Min issued his first directive ordering support for the semiconductor industry. In particular, regarding support for the semiconductor industry, he ordered that, in line with the 800 trillion won investment by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, semiconductor plants be completed early and that all administrative capabilities be focused so semiconductor production can begin within President Lee Jae-myung's term. Centered on the Industry Office, he called for establishing a swift administrative support system to build infrastructure such as water supply, power, and sites, and asked all bureaus and departments to thoroughly prepare for cultivating talent and creating living conditions including housing, education, and culture.
Meeting with reporters that day, Min said, "There are two things I need to focus on for the time being," adding, "One is semiconductors and the other is the integration process." Regarding the site of the semiconductor cluster, he said, "We will know once administrative steps are taken," and noted, "It is not something a local government can decide unilaterally, and it is highly likely to be decided by weighing the demands and conditions of corporations."
The city council also lent its support. On the day, the Gwangju Special City Council passed its first local government ordinance, the "Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City global semiconductor strategic investment support ordinance," to support the 800 trillion won semiconductor industrial complex investment plans of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. The ordinance includes, as duties of the integrated special city mayor, the establishment of policies to attract semiconductor industry investment and support implementation, as well as plans to build cooperative frameworks with related agencies. It also provides grounds for establishing a semiconductor strategy committee to review investment attraction and implementation and to deliberate comprehensively.