Shinan and Mokpo 'Integration' Emerges to the Surface

On the 10th, 'Discussion on Sinan-Mokpo Administrative Integration' to be Held

On the 10th, a 'Discussion on the Administrative Integration of Sinan and Mokpo' will be held at the auditorium of Mokpo National Maritime University. (Photo by Mokpo National Maritime University)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Discussions on administrative integration between Sinan County and Mokpo City have resumed after more than eight years, drawing attention to whether the integration will be successful. This marks the seventh attempt since the first integration effort in 1994.

According to Mokpo Maritime University and local civic groups on the 8th, a grand debate titled "What Will Improve if Sinan and Mokpo Integrate?" will be held at the small auditorium of Mokpo Maritime University from 2 p.m. on the 10th, aimed at communication and development for residents of the southwestern region.

Administrative integration discussions, which had been quiet since 2012, have resurfaced ahead of the April general elections with a proposal for a preliminary integration involving only Mokpo and Sinan, excluding Muan County.

Although Sinan County and Mokpo City are administratively separate, they effectively form a single living area. Approximately 60% of Mokpo’s population has roots or connections to Sinan County, and about 40% of Sinan’s roughly 23,000 households own homes in Mokpo.

Sinan and Mokpo share the same living, cultural, and tourism zones, but are divided only by administrative boundaries.

Proponents of integration argue that as Mokpo City, once the leading city in Jeollanam-do, has declined in status, integration is necessary for the future development of the relatively underdeveloped southwestern region compared to the eastern region.

If administrative integration is achieved, it is expected to grow into a city with a population of about 300,000, serving as a hinterland city for the provincial government and possessing a self-sustaining budget capacity of around 2 trillion won.

It is also anticipated to bring effects such as eliminating redundant investments in public facilities, reducing management costs, and expanding mutual complementarity between rural and urban areas.

The debate will feature a keynote presentation by Cho Sang-pil, invited research fellow at the Gwangju Jeonnam Research Institute, followed by discussions with Park Sung-hyun, president of Mokpo Maritime University; professors Kang Bong-ryong and Kim Byung-rok of Mokpo National University; Professor Choi Young-soo of Sehan University; and Kang Sung-gil, former representative of the Sinan Forum.

Notably, Mokpo Mayor Kim Jong-sik, Sinan County Governor Park Woo-ryang, and chairpersons of the local councils from both regions are also expected to attend, reflecting heightened interest in integration among local political circles.

Kwack Yoo-seok, former representative of the Mokpo Forum, stated, "The administrative integration of Sinan County and Mokpo City is an indispensable prerequisite for the development of the southwestern region," adding, "Before institutional procedures, we plan to form a private promotion committee with equal participation from both city and county to conduct full-scale discussions."

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the debate will be held without an audience, with only presenters, discussants, and guests attending, and will be broadcast via YouTube.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.