Every Election Season, the ‘Jeonju-Wanju Integration’ Resurfaces... Residents Are ‘Boiling Mad’

Governor and Jeonju Mayor Candidate Groups Raise 'Unification Theory'

Wanju Residents' Discontent Intensifies: "Are We Fools?"

Jeonju City Hall and Wanju County Office

[Jeonju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho] As next year's local elections approach, the long-standing debate over the integration of Jeonju and Wanju in the Jeonbuk region is resurfacing once again.

While candidates for Jeonbuk governor and Jeonju mayor are bringing up the Jeonju-Wanju integration, a perennial election topic, Wanju residents are voicing dissatisfaction, calling it a "chronic election disease."

According to the Jeonbuk political circles on the 29th, those preparing to run for Jeonbuk governor and Jeonju mayor have recently raised the issue of Jeonju-Wanju integration as an election topic.

Woo Beom-gi, former Jeonbuk Provincial Government Deputy Governor for Political Affairs, who declared his intention to run for Jeonju mayor, publicized the Jeonju-Wanju integration at a press conference on the 26th.

Former Deputy Governor Woo stated, "For the Saemangeum International Airport to be constructed, a hinterland city with a population of one million is necessary," and added, "For this, the integration of Jeonju and Wanju must fundamentally be achieved."

This was the first time among Jeonju mayoral candidates that the Jeonju-Wanju integration was mentioned.

Additionally, Candidate A, who is intensifying efforts to run for governor, is reportedly having in-depth internal discussions on whether to present Jeonju-Wanju integration as a representative pledge.

Moreover, Song Ha-jin, who is likely to run for a third term as governor, declared at the New Year's press conference in January this year that he would promote the establishment of a Jeonbuk metropolitan city that goes beyond Jeonju-Wanju integration and start a major reorganization of administrative districts in the Jeonbuk region.

Considering that no major issues have yet emerged to lead the governor and Jeonju mayor elections, the controversy over Jeonju-Wanju integration is expected to intensify.

Above all, since it has been a recurring topic in two general elections (2016 and 2020) and local elections (2014 and 2018) held after the integration failed in June 2013, it seems highly likely to reappear in next year's local elections.

However, Wanju residents, who are the main parties in the integration discussion, have expressed dissatisfaction with the behavior of the governor and Jeonju mayor candidates.

Despite clearly opposing integration (55.4%) through a resident referendum in June 2013, the repeated use of Jeonju-Wanju integration as a "trump card" during every election is considered an outdated political practice that must be eradicated.

Among some residents, there are even heated voices saying, "Are we fools?"

Representative Ahn Ho-young (Wanju-Jinan-Muju-Jangsu) said, "Raising the integration issue again without consulting Wanju residents will only increase conflict," and added, "We should first promote regional linkage strategies such as the Saemangeum Green New Deal and carbon and hydrogen industries, and above all, prepare population inflow policies to address the crisis of local extinction."

Seonam-yong, a Wanju county council member, also criticized, "Jeonju-Wanju integration is entirely a matter for residents to decide," and said, "Having gone through the ordeal twice, raising integration again for election purposes only stirs up conflict among residents and does not help the development of either region at all."

Jeonju=Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr

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