Mayor Lee Donghwan: "Gyeonggi Province Should Be a Supporter, Not an Administrator That Ties Our Hands"

Mayor Lee Donghwan Urges Decisive Action on Four Major Issues at Press Conference
Direct Criticism of Gyeonggi Province: "Stop Vertical Fiscal Exploitation"
Slams Repeated Rejection and Review of City Hall Investment Evaluation
Calls for Resumption of K-Culture Valley Project and Transparent Disclosure in Public-Private Council
Demands Overhaul of Cost-Sharing Structure: "Gyeonggi Province Takes Credit, Goyang City Bears the Cost"

"Metropolitan governments should serve as supporters that help the development of local governments, not as administrators that tie their hands and feet."

Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang, held an emergency press conference at the Goyang City Hall's large conference room on the 24th, strongly demanding a progressive decision and responsible actions from Gyeonggi Province, the project authority, regarding Goyang City's "four major issues." Photo by Lee Jonggu

On March 24, Mayor Lee Donghwan held an emergency press conference in the large conference room of Goyang City Hall, strongly demanding a proactive decision and responsible measures from Gyeonggi Province, the project authority, regarding Goyang City's "four major issues."

Mayor Lee argued that Goyang City's efforts for growth have repeatedly hit a wall due to Gyeonggi Province's passive administrative response.

He first pointed out the structural limitations facing Goyang City.

Mayor Lee stated, "A significant portion of Goyang City's area is designated as green belt or military protection zones, and the entire city falls within an overpopulation control region where it is difficult to attract even a single company," adding, "While the southern part of Gyeonggi Province has grown by attracting semiconductor belts and large corporations, the northern region, including Goyang City, has not been given a fair opportunity even once."

Despite these adverse conditions, Goyang City has managed to create its own breakthroughs by promoting the Economic Free Zone, K-Culture Valley and GoyangCon, securing approximately 470 billion won in national and provincial funds, and pushing forward with the new city hall project without budgetary burden. However, Mayor Lee argued that even these self-rescue measures by the local government are being continually hindered by Gyeonggi Province's uncooperative stance.

He directly criticized, "If Gyeonggi Province cannot help, it should at least step aside, but instead, it is blocking Goyang City with unjustified rejections and indefinite delays."

Mayor Lee revealed that repeated requests for meetings with the governor were ultimately ignored, and although he intended to visit the provincial government directly, the governor had already registered as a preliminary candidate for local elections on March 20 and relinquished his duties. He questioned, "Is it truly a responsible attitude for a governor who pledged to maximize the potential of northern Gyeonggi Province to ignore the long-standing wishes of Goyang citizens and prioritize his own political pursuits?"

He then specifically outlined the four key issues that Gyeonggi Province must resolve immediately, urging concrete action.

First, he demanded that Gyeonggi Province, as the official applicant, fulfill its responsible role in securing the final designation of the Goyang Economic Free Zone.

Mayor Lee Donghwan of Goyang held an emergency press conference on the 24th in the large conference room of Goyang City Hall, strongly demanding a proactive decision and responsible measures from Gyeonggi Province, the project authority, regarding Goyang City's 'Four Major Issues.' Photo by Lee Jonggu

Mayor Lee emphasized, "Over the past three years, Goyang City has revised its planned area four times to reflect the opinions of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, established funding plans, and secured foreign investment demand, struggling desperately even on behalf of Gyeonggi Province," stressing, "Now, Gyeonggi Province, as the applicant, must take the lead in negotiations with the ministry and actively represent Goyang City's urgent circumstances."

Second, he called for a fair and principled investment review of the Goyang City Hall relocation project, in line with the original intent of the system.

He explained, "Choosing to relocate to Baekseok, which requires around 33 billion won, instead of constructing a new city hall costing over 430 billion won, was a rational decision based on Goyang City's financial situation," adding, "This perfectly aligns with the purpose of the investment review system, which is to prevent wasteful fiscal management by local governments."

Nevertheless, he strongly questioned whether Gyeonggi Province's four re-examinations and rejections of this project amount to 'administrative negligence' aimed at avoiding difficult on-the-ground issues.

Third, he called for the swift normalization of the "K-Culture Valley" project, which has been stalled for ten years and has deeply disappointed Goyang citizens, as well as transparent disclosure of information.

Mayor Lee pointed out, "The governor's promised date for resuming construction has been delayed by another ten months. Further delays cannot be tolerated," and demanded, "Finalize the agreement with the project operator within this year and prepare extraordinary measures to make up for the lost time." In addition, to ensure transparency in project progress, he officially proposed the formation of a "public-private consultative body" in which Gyeonggi Province, Goyang citizens, and the city can all participate and have a real voice.

Fourth, he strongly called for the immediate adjustment of the unfair provincial subsidy rate that is straining city and county finances. Mayor Lee criticized the reality that, despite the worsening fiscal independence of Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province's support is actually decreasing. He said, "Gyeonggi Province is providing only 20% support to Goyang City, cutting the standard subsidy rate by an additional 10% from 30%," pointing out, "It is paradoxical that Goyang City, which needs more support, is actually receiving less."

Mayor Lee particularly highlighted the structural problem of financial burdens from metropolitan projects being shifted onto local governments, stating, "Gyeonggi Province gets the credit, but Goyang City bears the cost." He added that even for essential welfare projects such as senior care and disability services, as well as for the semi-public bus system led by the province, the provincial subsidy is only 30%. He strongly criticized this, saying, "This is no different from dropping a financial bomb on local government finances."

Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang, held an emergency press conference on the 24th at the Goyang City Hall main conference room, strongly demanding a progressive resolution and responsible actions from Gyeonggi Province, the project authority, regarding Goyang City's "Four Major Issues." Photo by Lee Jonggu

He defined such a system as "vertical fiscal exploitation" and strongly demanded raising the standard subsidy rate from 30% to 50%, as well as applying differentiated subsidy rates that reflect special financial conditions and project importance.

Mayor Lee declared, "The responsibility of Gyeonggi Province does not disappear just because Governor Kim Dongyeon has declared his candidacy for election," and emphasized, "Gyeonggi Province must work with Goyang City as a partner in mutual growth, not as a subject of subordination, and we will move forward with 1.08 million citizens until a sincere decision is made."

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