Kim San, County Governor of Muan, Principally Opposes 'City-Province Integration'

Discussion on 'City and Province Integrated Government Building' Should Be Based on Maintaining It in Namak

Kim San, County Governor of Muan / Photo by Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Kim San, the mayor of Muan County, expressed on the 29th that he agrees with Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok's position that the integrated city-province government office should be located in Namak in relation to the recently emerging discussions on the integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam.

Mayor Kim stated, "I am fundamentally opposed to the city-province integration, but the starting point of the integration discussion must acknowledge that the current provincial government office location, Namak New Town, will be the site of the integrated government office," adding, "I understand that the majority of mayors and county heads also agree with establishing the integrated office at the current provincial government location."

He also emphasized, "As the mayor of the region where the current provincial government office is located, if the integrated office is established elsewhere, it will cause severe depopulation of Namak New Town and accelerate the underdevelopment of the relatively disadvantaged southwestern region. For balanced development between Gwangju and Jeonnam and to secure sustainable growth momentum in the southwest region, the integrated city-province government office must remain in Namak."

He expressed concern, saying, "Repeating the serious difficulties caused to the local community by the past relocation of the provincial government office to Namak and provoking conflicts between regions again would be a very exhausting debate."

Recently, Governor Kim Young-rok stated, "I am fundamentally in favor of the integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam in press briefings and provincial government inquiries, but respecting the opinions of the majority of residents, discussions on integration should proceed on the premise that the integrated government office will be located in Namak New Town, where the current provincial government office is situated."

Meanwhile, the Jeollanam-do provincial government's position is that since the issue of the integrated government office location is a sensitive matter that could lead to conflicts due to various interests among city and provincial residents during the public discussion process and potentially cause the discussions to collapse, the location of the integrated office should be confirmed as the current Namak New Town to prevent anticipated conflicts.

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