Kim Dong-yeon: "If Political Consideration Arises for Gyeonggi Northern Special Self-Governing Province, Extraordinary Measures Will Be Taken"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is presiding over an open provincial government meeting at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Northern Office Building in Uijeongbu on the 22nd.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon has requested the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to hold a referendum, the final step for establishing the Gyeonggi Northern Special Autonomous Province, urging a decision on approval or rejection by mid-December. Governor Kim warned that if there are political considerations in the government's decision-making process, he is prepared to consider extraordinary measures involving the National Assembly and the public.

On the 22nd, at an open provincial government meeting held at the Northern Office of the Uijeongbu Provincial Government Building, Governor Kim said, "We have done everything Gyeonggi Province can do: setting a vision for the Gyeonggi Northern Special Autonomous Province, filling it with content, holding resident briefings across almost the entire northern region, and even securing resolutions in the provincial council, which has an equal number of ruling and opposition members, to urge the enactment of a special law for the referendum." He added, "Now the ball is in the government's court. We strongly urge the government to provide an answer by the deadline of mid-December on whether the referendum will be held."

He continued, "If the answer regarding the referendum is negative, I clearly state that we will take extraordinary measures such as discussing with the National Assembly and directly asking the public." He added, "Gyeonggi Province will do everything it can, including opportunity zones, attracting businesses and investments, and deregulation, while waiting for the central government's response on the referendum."

Governor Kim also criticized, "If political considerations influence the decision, not only the more than 3.6 million northern residents but also the 14 million residents of Gyeonggi Province and the people of the Republic of Korea deserve to criticize, and the public will never stand by silently." He said, "Trying to resolve the northern special autonomous province referendum politically is the same as viewing the 'Gimpo Seoul incorporation' or 'Seoul expansion' as political objectives, and it will be a political misstep."

Regarding concerns about the high cost of the referendum, he stated, "The cost argument is really a poor excuse and pretext." He promised, "Considering this is a national matter and for the growth of the Republic of Korea, the referendum cost is very small. We will earn back several times, tens of times, or hundreds of times the cost incurred. We will develop the northern region and raise the growth rate of the Republic of Korea."

Meanwhile, this was the first time that all department heads and heads of affiliated public institutions gathered in one place for a senior executive meeting chaired by the governor. Gyeonggi Province explained that this expressed the strong will of Governor Kim Dong-yeon and the members of Gyeonggi Province for the establishment of the Gyeonggi Northern Special Autonomous Province.

Following the open provincial government meeting, Governor Kim held the Gyeonggi Northern Special Autonomous Province Public-Private Joint Promotion Committee and continued efforts toward establishing the Gyeonggi Northern Special Autonomous Province.

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