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Park Hong-ryul, Mayor of Mokpo, issued a statement on the morning of the 11th regarding the integration of Mokpo and Sinan.

Mayor Park expressed, “In the face of the crisis of local extinction due to population decline caused by low birth rates and aging, the administrative integration of Mokpo and Sinan is a task of the times,”

and said, “Mokpo and Sinan have attempted integration six times since 1994 but faced repeated failures and frustrations. However, this time, with the start of the 8th elected term, we are fully committed with all sectors united in one mind to ensure we do not fail.”

He explained, “To this end, 23 neighborhoods of Mokpo City and 14 towns and townships of Sinan County have formed sisterhood ties, resulting in a total of 200 voluntary private exchanges such as rural labor assistance and mutual festival visits. We have also identified 26 win-win cooperation projects focused on resident convenience and are currently discussing implementation plans.”

He continued, “According to the results of the ‘Mokpo-Sinan Integration Effect Analysis Study’ jointly commissioned with Sinan County, the economic ripple effect of administrative integration is expected to be around 2 trillion won, and the number of tourists is predicted to reach 22 million by 2027,” emphasizing, “The integration effect has been clearly proven.”

He added, “Based on these results, we will discover projects that enable mutual development between Mokpo and Sinan and carefully find solutions to various potential problems.”

Mayor Park Hong-ryul of Mokpo is delivering a statement regarding the Mokpo-Shinan integration in the city hall situation room. [Photo by Mokpo City]

He also stated, “Since the opinion of Sinan residents, who have a high opposition rate to the Mokpo-Sinan integration, is the most important, we must restore regional homogeneity through various linkage projects and cooperation, build consensus on the necessity of integration, and this time, we must achieve integration,” presenting plans for integration to Sinan County and local political circles.

In particular, he said, “Regarding the name of the integrated city and the integrated government building, we will proceed with respect for the opinions of Sinan residents,” and proposed a generous concession: “The tentative name of the integrated city will be Sinan City, and the integrated government building will primarily use the current Sinan County Office located on Amhae Island. The current Mokpo City Office will be reviewed to operate as an administrative welfare comprehensive center overseeing 23 neighborhoods and function as a branch office.”

Mayor Park proposed a four-party consultative body including the National Assembly members from Sinan, Muan, and Yeongam constituencies, the National Assembly member from Mokpo constituency, the Sinan County Governor, and the Mokpo Mayor. He expressed the opinion that “the consultative body should politically integrate the National Assembly constituencies of Mokpo City, Sinan County, and Muan County into one constituency, adjusting into two constituencies such as Mok-Mu-Sin Gap and Mok-Mu-Sin Eul, and through this electoral district integration and adjustment consultation, political integration of the Muan Peninsula will naturally lead to administrative integration,” while stating that “integration with Muan County is a long-term task.”

He also announced, “The large-scale eco-friendly incineration facility scheduled for completion in 2026 plans to process 20 tons of Sinan County’s waste daily. The Mokpo crematorium will add one cremation furnace by the end of this year and introduce a priority reservation system for Sinan residents. We will comprehensively review and promote fee reductions for crematorium use through ordinance amendments and other measures.”

Furthermore, he revealed plans to “double the budget for purchasing eco-friendly agricultural products from the Sinan area, which currently amounts to 1 billion won, by 2025, and actively support transportation costs for Mokpo citizens traveling to Sinan County’s tourist attractions to revitalize Sinan’s local economy.”

He also proposed, “The formation of the ‘Mokpo-Sinan Win-Win Integration Promotion Joint Committee,’ which includes experts from various fields such as local self-sustaining organizations, legal professionals, professors, religious figures, and public officials, to lead the private sector-driven integration efforts of the two cities and counties.”

He explained, “The Win-Win Integration Promotion Joint Committee will have subcommittees to discover win-win projects and prepare practical promotion plans, then finalize key promotion tasks through the full committee, serving as a public-private cooperative organization.”

Mayor Park expressed his ambition, saying, “Mokpo City will systematically cooperate based on respect and understanding for Sinan County and its residents to do its utmost to ensure that the Mokpo-Sinan administrative integration is achieved first and foremost.”

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