Mokpo Mayoral Candidate Sungwhi Kang Calls for Designation of Muan Peninsula as Wide-Area Living Zone

Two-Stage Integration Proposal:
"Wide-Area Living Zone First, Special City Next"

Kang Sung-hwi, the prospective mayoral candidate for Mokpo, proposed the designation of the Muan Peninsula as a metropolitan living area.

Sungwhi Kang, a preliminary candidate for Mokpo mayor in South Jeolla Province, proposed the designation of the "Muan Peninsula wide-area living zone," which would combine Mokpo, Muan, and Shinan into a single region, and presented a vision for a phased administrative integration.

On March 5, Kang stated in a press release, "The recently passed Jeonnam-Gwangju Integration Special Act explicitly grants the integrated special mayor the authority to designate and manage wide-area living zones that encompass two or more cities, counties, or districts," adding, "The Muan Peninsula should be designated as a wide-area living zone as a priority."

Article 11 of the Integration Special Act stipulates that the integrated special mayor can designate or change a wide-area living zone, and that during the designation process, the opinions of the heads of the relevant local governments must be heard, and the proposal must undergo committee deliberation. After designation, the legal basis is established for carrying out wide-area administrative tasks, such as building a regional road network, restructuring the public transportation system, and installing and operating public facilities.

Kang emphasized, "The port and urban functions of Mokpo, the international airport and supporting industrial complexes in Muan, and the offshore wind farms and marine resources in Shinan already operate as a single economic axis," adding, "Although the administrative districts are separated, in reality, the living zone has already been integrated."

He further stressed, "If designated as a wide-area living zone, roads, transportation, industry, and public facilities can be integrated and managed by region, enabling practical integration effects even before formal administrative consolidation."

Kang described this as a "two-stage integration plan." The first stage is to designate the Muan Peninsula as a wide-area living zone after the launch of the integrated special city and jointly manage wide-area administration. The second stage involves developing this foundation into a special Muan Peninsula city.

He stated, "Prioritizing the wide-area living zone, followed by the special city, is a realistic integration path," adding, "By accumulating shared policy experience through the operation of the wide-area living zone, we can reduce conflicts and enhance competitiveness when transitioning to a special city."

Kang reiterated, "The Muan Peninsula is already a single living zone," and stated, "Now, administration must catch up with this reality."

He also proposed that, immediately after the local elections, Mokpo and Shinan should pursue early integration, emphasizing, "To prevent integration discussions from losing momentum after the election, all Mokpo mayoral candidates must participate in a joint declaration for early integration."

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