Mayor Lee Hyun-jae: "Obstacles to Growth Suppression, Unreasonable Regulations in the Capital Region Must Be Eased"

26th Hanam-si, Icheon-si, Yongin-si, Gwangju-si, Yeoju-si and 8 local governments participate
‘2nd Hangang Love Forum’ Metropolitan Area Regulation Improvement Win-Win Cooperation Resolution Launch Ceremony

The inauguration ceremony for the "2nd Hangang Love Forum" resolution on cooperative efforts to improve regulations in the metropolitan area was held on the 26th at the main conference room of Icheon City Hall, Gyeonggi Province.

"Unreasonable regulations in the Seoul metropolitan area are deteriorating the competitiveness of local regions and the entire nation. Before it’s too late, we must accelerate economic revitalization and balanced development through bold deregulation, as seen in advanced countries like London, Paris, and Tokyo."

Lee Hyun-jae, Mayor of Hanam City in Gyeonggi Province, emphasized this on the 26th at the launch ceremony of the ‘2nd Hangang Love Forum’ for cooperative resolution of metropolitan area regulation improvements, held in the main conference room of Icheon City Hall, Gyeonggi Province.

At the launch ceremony, heads of eight local governments including Hanam City, Icheon City, Yongin City, Uiwang City, Yangpyeong County, Gapyeong County, Gwangju City, and Yeoju City, along with National Assembly members Song Seok-jun and Kim Seon-kyo (representing Icheon and Yeoju·Yangpyeong constituencies), gathered to share difficulties caused by overlapping regulations in the overconcentration control zone, natural conservation zone, and growth management area, all established under the ‘Metropolitan Area Readjustment Planning Act’ created 40 years ago.

Under the metropolitan area readjustment regulations, targets of regulation include restrictions on activities, imposition of overconcentration charges, and total volume limits. These apply to universities, schools above a certain size, factories, public offices, office and commercial buildings, and training facilities. Additionally, large-scale development projects require review by the Metropolitan Area Readjustment Committee and consultation or approval from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Tax-related laws impose triple rates on corporate registration license tax and acquisition tax for commercial and office real estate.

During the launch ceremony, attendees agreed on the following: ▲ rational adjustment of metropolitan area regulations to reflect current realities and maximize economic potential through revision of the Metropolitan Area Readjustment Planning Act ▲ urging the establishment of a foundation for balanced development where the metropolitan area and local regions can coexist and drive sustainable national growth ▲ nature-friendly national land development to prevent indiscriminate development and protect the environment ▲ ensuring transparent and fair opportunities by involving local governments and citizens in the metropolitan area regulation improvement process, and continuous cooperation and communication for joint response.

Hanam City has been actively pursuing efforts to resolve metropolitan area regulations. In particular, to alleviate regulations in the overconcentration control zone, it has been working with mayors and county heads from 12 local governments in Gyeonggi Province through the ‘Overconcentration Control Zone Local Governments Joint Response Council’ to promote deregulation. It has also continuously submitted proposals, including holding discussions at the National Assembly with the Gyeonggi Province Mayors and County Heads Council and forums on local tax system improvements related to overconcentration zone surcharges.

Moreover, as a result of multifaceted efforts to improve regulations, in November last year, at the Emergency Economic Ministers’ Meeting and Export Investment Measures Meeting, a ‘Support Plan for Operation of Corporate Investment Projects’ was confirmed and announced, leading to a fast-track system improvement that drastically reduced administrative procedures for large-scale foreign investments from over 42 months to just over 20 months.

Notably, the ‘K-Star World Development Project,’ which could not be released from the development restriction zone due to environmental evaluation grades 1 and 2, was directly proposed multiple times since July last year to the Prime Minister, Minister and Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Minister and Vice Minister of Environment.

As a result, through practical consultations with the Regulatory Innovation Planning Office of the Prime Minister’s Office and on-site verification by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Green City Division) in Hanam City, the development restriction zone release guidelines were revised to allow release if measures are established to manage water pollution sources. If K-Star World, based on K-Culture, is developed on Misa Island, it is expected to create 30,000 direct jobs and generate an economic ripple effect exceeding 3 trillion KRW.

Mayor Lee Hyun-jae of Hanam City stated, "To improve the excessive metropolitan area regulations that unreasonably suppress growth under the Metropolitan Area Readjustment Planning Act, including the overconcentration control zone, it is important to establish justification and consensus through forums led by the National Assembly and citizens, and not let discussions remain only within the council. Continuous proposals and consultations with Gyeonggi Province, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport are essential to strengthen national competitiveness and promote economic development."

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