Oh Se-hoon meets with ruling party New City special committee: "Gradual integration needed over 6-10 years"

"Megacity Discussions Will Continue Even After the General Election"

On the 15th, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon met with the People Power Party's New City Project Special Committee (New City Special Committee) at the Seoul City Hall office to discuss issues related to the integration of cities adjacent to the metropolitan area. This meeting was the third gathering regarding the integration of adjacent cities, following meetings with Kim Byung-soo, Mayor of Gimpo, on the 6th, and Baek Kyung-hyun, Mayor of Guri, on the 13th. During the meeting, Mayor Oh stated that cities wishing to integrate would need a phased incorporation into Seoul over 6 to 10 years.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon (right) and Cho Kyung-tae, Chairman of the People Power Party's New City Project Special Committee, shake hands before a meeting at Seoul City Hall on the morning of the 15th. Photo by Joint Press Corps [Image source=Yonhap News]

The meeting was attended by New City Special Committee Chairman Cho Kyung-tae, along with members Cho Eun-hee, Lee In-hwa, and spokesperson Jung Kwang-jae. Chairman Cho said, “As the New City Special Committee plans to propose a bill this week for the incorporation of cities within the metropolitan area into ‘Seoul,’ we intend to accelerate discussions and push forward quickly. We hope Seoul City will also take an interest in the special law and engage in frequent discussions with the party.”

In response, Mayor Oh emphasized that the integration of metropolitan adjacent cities requires comprehensive research on changes in the quality of life for citizens in Seoul and the metropolitan area, as well as urban competitiveness. Furthermore, he stressed the need for in-depth research at the New City Special Committee level on national competitiveness and balanced national land development. He also mentioned that discussions related to the mega-city will continue after the general election, regardless of election outcomes.

In particular, he pointed out that if rapid incorporation of Seoul and adjacent metropolitan cities occurs, achieving successful integration could become difficult. Therefore, such considerations must be sufficiently included in the ‘special law.’ He also emphasized that the special law should include provisions for temporary administrative system exceptions and securing fiscal neutrality.

Seoul City and its 25 autonomous districts currently fall under the category of ‘ordinary local governments not receiving ordinary grants,’ meaning that under the current system, municipalities incorporated would not receive ordinary grants. Additionally, the national subsidy rate is applied 10 to 30 percentage points lower compared to other metropolitan local governments. Furthermore, if a ‘mayor under Gyeonggi Province’ changes status to a ‘Seoul district mayor,’ they would lose authority over 42 powers in 14 areas, including urban planning rights. Therefore, it has been proposed to incorporate these areas as ‘autonomous cities’ rather than ‘districts,’ ensuring no administrative or fiscal disadvantages, and after 6 to 10 years, to pursue full integration as ‘Seoul autonomous districts’ in stages. To achieve this, amendments to laws such as the Local Autonomy Act, the Act on the Management of Subsidies, and the Capital Region Readjustment Planning Act are necessary. Including all related matters in the ‘special law’ would resolve the current issues being raised.

Mayor Oh stated, “As I requested during my visit to the National Assembly yesterday, the special law should not be limited to any one city but should include ‘broad principles commonly applicable’ considering the integration effects and impacts with multiple adjacent cities wishing to incorporate. Above all, the special law must fully reflect the desires of Seoul and metropolitan area citizens to truly fulfill its original purpose.”

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