Kim Dong-yeon: "If Gyeonggi Northern Special Self-Governing Province Referendum Is Rejected, There Are Other Options"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon (sixth from the right) is taking a commemorative photo with the members of the Public-Private Joint Promotion Committee for the Establishment of the Special Self-Governing Province of Northern Gyeonggi at the Gyeonggi Northern Office in Uijeongbu City on the 22nd.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon reiterated his call for the government to decide on a resident referendum regarding the establishment of the Gyeonggi Northern Special Autonomous Province, expressing strong determination by saying, "If mountains block the way, we will make a road; if water blocks the way, we will build a bridge and move forward."

On the 22nd, Governor Kim held the ‘Public-Private Joint Promotion Committee for the Establishment of the Gyeonggi Northern Special Autonomous Province’ at the Northern Government Complex situation room, encouraging the committee’s efforts so far and listening to various opinions from members on future activation plans.

This meeting was the fourth since the committee’s launch last December. So far, Gyeonggi Province has taken step-by-step procedures for establishing the Gyeonggi Northern Special Autonomous Province, including ▲proclaiming the vision for the Gyeonggi Northern Special Autonomous Province ▲holding touring briefings and deliberative public surveys in cities and counties to build public consensus ▲and submitting proposals to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety for the establishment of the Gyeonggi Northern Special Autonomous Province and the holding of a resident referendum.

Governor Kim said, "Gyeonggi Province has done its best so far regarding the Northern Special Autonomous Province. We strongly urge the central government to decide on whether to hold a resident referendum by mid-December," adding, "Considering everything we have done, I believe the government has no grounds to reject the request for a resident referendum. If they refuse or respond negatively, it will be entirely for political reasons."

He continued, "The idea of the Northern Special Autonomous Province first came up in 1989, and reaching the current point in the 8th elected term can be seen as an unprecedented path," and added, "Whatever conclusion the central government reaches, we will respond according to our scenario. Thank you for your support, and we ask for your continued help."

After the meeting, Governor Kim also told reporters, "If the government is negative about the resident referendum, there are other ways to resolve this, such as gathering opinions from local councils or through a special law in the National Assembly," emphasizing, "We requested a resident referendum despite being able to gather opinions from local councils because it is more democratic and aims to gain momentum by hearing from more residents. If mountains block the way, we will make a road; if water blocks the way, we will build a bridge and move forward."

The ‘Public-Private Joint Promotion Committee for the Establishment of the Gyeonggi Northern Special Autonomous Province’ is a public-private cooperation body for overall coordination and advisory activities related to the establishment of the Gyeonggi Northern Special Autonomous Province. It was launched last December with 11 members, including former National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang and Kang Sung-jong, President of Shinhan University (co-chairs), and currently has 24 members active in various fields.

Co-chair Kang Sung-jong said, "A crisis is an opportunity. The Gyeonggi Northern Special Autonomous Province should become a representative brand of the Republic of Korea, and I believe that is the destiny of the Northern Special Autonomous Province," explaining the importance of the region by saying, "Gyeonggi North has the one and only DMZ in the world. It is a place that can talk about world peace, and through events like the Peace Olympics, it can guarantee South Korea’s economic growth and future."

At the meeting, committee members agreed not only to provide policy advice for the establishment of the Northern Special Autonomous Province but also to actively promote the establishment by participating in various communication venues such as meetings and forums within their respective professional fields.

Meanwhile, before the committee meeting, Governor Kim also urged the government to decide by mid-December whether to hold the resident referendum during the open provincial government meeting held that day. He expressed strong determination, stating that if there are political considerations in the government’s decision-making process, he would take extraordinary measures through the National Assembly and the people.

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