Changwon Mayoral Pre-candidate Myeongsang Kang: "Merge with Haman to Create a Metropolitan Living Sphere of 1.1 Million"

Myeongsang Kang, a pre-candidate for the Changwon Special City Mayor representing the People Power Party in Gyeongnam, stated that it is necessary to respond to the crisis of Changwon's population falling below one million by pursuing a merger between Changwon and Haman.

On March 5, Kang held a policy briefing at the Changwon City Hall press center, saying, "Changwon, which once boasted a population of one million, now faces structural crises such as population decline, stagnation in the industrial structure, and the outflow of young people," and added, "We must turn this crisis into an opportunity by shifting our strategy toward expanding and growing Changwon once again."

He presented, "One of the solutions is a long-term strategy to reorganize Changwon and Haman into a single living sphere."

Myeongsang Kang, a preliminary candidate for the Changwon Special City Mayor of the People Power Party, is announcing a policy to address population decline through the integration of Changwon and Haman. Photo by Se-ryung Lee

He explained, "Masan Hoewon District and Haman are already closely connected in terms of industry, transportation, and daily life, with industrial complexes, logistics routes, and residential movement patterns operating beyond administrative boundaries. However, administrative jurisdictions are separated, and plans are carried out independently, leading to redundant investments, inefficiencies, and the fragmentation of growth drivers."

He also said, "Haman is a region with significant potential, such as vast available land, the possibility of industrial expansion, agri-bio resources, and the geographical advantage of being adjacent to Changwon. However, it faces many restrictions in achieving a major transformation on its own due to the financial limitations of county-level administration and the ongoing trend of population decline."

"Likewise, it is now difficult for Changwon to find a breakthrough through internal reorganization alone," he emphasized. "At this point, a strategic choice to integrate living spheres and expand the industrial belt is necessary."

However, he drew a clear line, stating, "The merger with Haman should not be an absorption but a mutually beneficial integration, with the goal of empowering Haman and enabling Changwon to make a fresh leap forward."

Kang explained, "If Changwon and Haman are merged, a metropolitan living sphere with a population of one million will be formed, enabling the expansion of the defense, machinery, and future mobility industries. Changwon will regain its population base and secure new momentum for the Special City, while Haman can create new flows of industrial and population inflow."

He also emphasized, "The reorganization of administrative districts must go through a strict process stipulated by the Local Autonomy Act, including a resident referendum and approval from the central government. The June 2026 local election should serve not as the immediate merger, but as the starting point for public discussion and the commencement of official procedures."

He added that with the launch of the 'Changwon-Haman Public Discussion Committee,' a public discussion structure would be established with participation from local residents, experts, industry representatives, youth, and farmers from both Changwon and Haman. By conducting a 'joint research project,' an analysis will be carried out on the effects of fiscal integration, industrial synergy, transport, education, and welfare impacts.

In addition, he stated that through 'resident briefing sessions,' opinions for and against the merger would be collected, preliminary consultations with the central government would be initiated, and if the requirements are met, a 'resident referendum' would be held to confirm and initiate the final decision.

Kang also said, "I have heard that part of Hanwha Aerospace and Hyundai Rotem's businesses will be relocated to Suncheon and Muan in Jeonnam, respectively," adding, "Considering the future strategy of Changwon, we must join forces with Haman, which has many defense, machinery, and future mobility companies."

"This is not about stirring up issues ahead of the election, but a question of whether to respond passively to the imminent collapse of the one million population mark or to shift toward an expansion strategy," he continued. "Administrative integration is not the goal, but a means, and the true goal is the joint growth of Changwon and Haman," he added.

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