Kim Dong-yeon: "If President Yoon is sincere about balanced national development, give an answer on Seoul expansion"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is presiding over an open provincial government meeting at the northern provincial office building on the 14th.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon visited the northern government office and reiterated his strong commitment to establishing the Gyeonggi Northern Special Self-Governing Province.

At the ‘Open Provincial Government Meeting’ held at the northern government office on the 14th, Governor Kim emphasized, "I cannot help but feel dismayed as the recent issue of the Gyeonggi Northern Special Self-Governing Province seems to have been politically muddied, but I want to once again express Gyeonggi Province’s strong will and direction."

He continued, "President Yoon recently raised the issue of concentration in the metropolitan area during a public discussion on people’s livelihoods and spoke about opening an era of local autonomy. On the very day I announced the Northern Special Self-Governing Province, he made the same statement in Daejeon," adding, "However, the ruling party’s emergency committee chair is making discordant remarks about expanding Seoul. I cannot help but ask what the government and ruling party’s philosophy and direction really are."

He further urged, "If the president is sincere about balanced national development, I hope he will give a clear answer regarding Seoul’s expansion," and "If the ruling party in power is certain that the president’s intention lies in solving the metropolitan concentration problem and opening an era of local autonomy, they should immediately stop attempts to incorporate Seoul and actively respond to the residents’ referendum requested by Gyeonggi Province for the establishment of the Northern Special Self-Governing Province."

Regarding the ‘division of Gyeonggi Province’ mentioned by the ruling party, Governor Kim stated, "Gyeonggi Province has never officially used the term ‘division’ that implies splitting Gyeonggi Province into two," explaining, "The purpose of northern development and the Northern Special Self-Governing Province is to foster the growth potential of northern Gyeonggi, thereby driving the growth of the entire Republic of Korea and making it one of the most internationally competitive regions."

He also proposed, "Rather than splitting, it is about developing Gyeonggi Province and the entire Republic of Korea with a new concept and vision, so I hope the term can be unified as the Gyeonggi Northern Special Self-Governing Province."

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