Kang Ki-jung "Honam Region Ultra-wide Cooperation Requires Concept of City Alliance, Not Administrative Integration"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] To effectively promote the Honam region's super metropolitan cooperation project, it has been suggested that a concept of a city alliance-type special autonomous district is needed rather than an administrative integration method of local governments.

The Cube Policy Research Institute announced on the 29th that it held the 9th Local Autonomy Day commemorative 'Honam Region Super Metropolitan Cooperation Forum.'

This forum was proposed by former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Kang Gijeong and was held jointly with the Democratic Party’s Gwangju Metropolitan City, Jeonnam Province, Jeonbuk Province Party Committees, and the Gwangju Metropolitan City Council.

Former Senior Secretary Kang, who served as a presenter, said, “Rather than the administrative integration method, a new concept of a city alliance-type special local autonomous district, where existing metropolitan local governments remain and authority and functions are significantly transferred, is necessary,” adding, “Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeonbuk should jointly promote super metropolitan cooperation projects separately from independent regional metropolitanization (mega city).”

He continued, “Super metropolitan cooperation projects require clear actors and independent financial resource securing plans,” and argued, “The Ministry of the Interior and Safety should be expanded and reorganized into the Ministry of Decentralization and Balanced Development to be established as a core ministry for local autonomy and balanced development.”

He also emphasized the Democratic Party’s role as a balancing force.

Former Senior Secretary Kang said, “The party’s Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Mega City Special Committee should be expanded and reorganized into region-specific customized super metropolitan special committees,” and added, “The party should take the lead in understanding the industrial connectivity between cities and provinces in the Honam region, secure budgets, and proceed with the city alliance steps to realize super metropolitan industries.”

Kim Seongju, Chairman of the Democratic Party Jeonbuk Provincial Party Committee, who participated online in the forum, diagnosed, “It is true that strategic projects and budgets in Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeonbuk are carried out within their respective regions, so connectivity is lacking,” and said, “For the success of Honam region super metropolitan cooperation, if there is no industrial strategy including Jeonbuk beyond spatial strategies, it may remain just a slogan.”

Kim Seungnam, Chairman of the Jeonnam Provincial Party Committee, also attending online, said, “The Jeonnam region has different regional and industrial characteristics such as Gwangju, western, central-southern, and eastern areas, so I agree with former Senior Secretary Kang’s proposal for a city alliance of six Honam cities,” and emphasized, “We should completely break away from the existing balanced development strategy and not leave super metropolitan projects to individual ministries, but lead them together as a region.”

Lee Yongbin, spokesperson for the Democratic Party Central Party, who attended as a panelist in the discussion, said, “The national balanced development strategy of the Participatory Government has developed into the super metropolitan cooperation of the Moon Jae-in administration, enabling our region to take the lead as a subject of a leading country,” and added, “Although the start was a bit late, it is important to establish a super metropolitan cooperation special committee within the party to gather wisdom.”

Lee Sangjun, Director of the Metropolitan Policy Bureau at the National Balanced Development Committee, which participated as a sponsoring organization, stated, “Super metropolitan cooperation, a global trend, is not about the central government setting directions and regions following as in the past, but about regions leading and linking comprehensive and multifaceted projects,” and said, “Since the purpose of super metropolitan cooperation is to create added value through collaboration and cooperation, it is necessary to discover new added value through a practical diagnosis of industrial connectivity among Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeonbuk.”

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