Namyangju City Council Holds Regular Meeting of Gyeonggi Eastern Region City and County Council Chairpersons Association

The Gyeonggi Eastern Region City and County Council Chairpersons Association (Chairman Sungdae Cho) held its 135th regular meeting on the 17th at the Gwangju City Council Second Standing Committee Room.

Sungdae Cho, chairman of the Gyeonggi Eastern Region City and County Council Chairpersons Association (fourth from left), is taking a commemorative photo after holding the 135th regular meeting at the Gwangju City Council's 2nd Standing Committee Room on the 17th. Provided by Namyangju City

The regular meeting was attended by Sungdae Cho, chairman of the Gyeonggi Eastern Region City and County Council Chairpersons Association and chairman of the Namyangju City Council, as well as the chairpersons of the Yangpyeong City Council, Gwangju City Council, Hanam City Council, Icheon City Council, and Yeoju City Council.

During this meeting, three agenda items were addressed, including the "Promotion of the Gyeonggi Eastern Region City and County Council Millennials & Gen Z Exchange Program." Discussions were also held on the results of the 134th regular meeting, the awards ceremony for outstanding council members, and the 2026 annual operation plan for the Gyeonggi Eastern Region City and County Council Chairpersons Association.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Cho stated, "The Gwangju City Council, where today's meeting is being held, holds special significance for us. On March 16, 2007, 18 years ago, the 42nd meeting of the Gyeonggi Eastern Region City and County Council Chairpersons Association was held here. At that time, we expressed concern over the decline in quality of life for residents caused by restrictions related to the protection of the Paldang Water Source and regulations imposed on the metropolitan area. It was here that we resolved to protect the property rights and right to livelihood of residents in the Gyeonggi Eastern Region from the government's unilateral regulations by adopting resolutions to amend the Hangang Act and the Metropolitan Area Readjustment Planning Act."

He continued, "Despite numerous efforts, residents of the Gyeonggi Eastern Region still bear the full burden of overlapping regulations and damage to property rights under the pretext of preserving the metropolitan area's water source," expressing regret over the current situation.

Chairman Cho added, "In response, the Namyangju City Council has begun a full-fledged campaign to abolish overlapping regulations, including the Hangang Act, by hanging a large banner on the exterior wall of the city council building calling for the abolition of these regulations. I ask all the chairpersons present here to do their utmost to achieve our shared goal of abolishing the Hangang Act and eliminating overlapping regulations in the Paldang region."

Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi Eastern Region City and County Council Chairpersons Association has decided to hold its 136th regular meeting at the Namyangju City Council in November.