[6.3 Election] Min Hyungbae: "No Boundary Between Jeonnam and Gwangju... Integrated Special City as One"

Drawing Boundaries Between East and West Is No Longer Acceptable
"Principle of Balance, Fostering Specialized Industries by Region"

Min Hyungbae, who has been confirmed as the Democratic Party’s candidate for the integrated special mayor of Jeonnam and Gwangju, announced his vision for a major transformation across politics, the economy, and society, stating, "I will make Jeonnam and Gwangju a land of opportunity where young people do not leave, and a growth axis leading South Korea’s future."

On the afternoon of the 15th, during a press conference at the briefing room of the Jeonnam Provincial Council, Min emphasized, "The starting point of the integrated special city is to make this region a hometown where young people can dream freely without having to leave," and added, "I will achieve a political transformation for Jeonnam and Gwangju."

He also referenced an ‘administrative innovation centered on citizen sovereignty.’

Min Hyoungbae, candidate for the integrated special mayor of Gwangju, Jeonnam, visited the briefing room of the Jeonnam Provincial Council on the 15th to explain future regional development strategies. Photo by Sim Jinseok

He stated, "Administration must be a tool to realize the will of citizens," adding, "Key policies will be decided together with citizens, and budgets and projects will be released with greater transparency." He continued, "I will create a special city where the voices of citizens are directly reflected in policy."

He also presented an economic vision to "combine the strengths of Jeonnam and Gwangju."

He said, "By linking Gwangju’s AI and mobility industries with Jeonnam’s agricultural, fisheries, and renewable energy sectors, we will build a new growth engine," adding, "We will make rural areas smarter and accelerate innovation in the cities, simultaneously creating youth jobs and a sustainable regional economy."

On the social and cultural front, he declared, "I will make this special city number one in quality of life."

Min stated, "We will extend the historical and cultural assets of Jeonnam and Gwangju into the daily lives of citizens and establish a comprehensive welfare system where no one is left behind."

He acknowledged the challenges ahead in the integration process and said he would seek breakthroughs.

Min emphasized, "There are conflicts of interest and anxieties, but this is a path that must be taken," adding, "The survival of Jeonnam and Gwangju and the future of South Korea are at stake." He continued, "I will stand at the forefront of this path, listen to citizens with greater humility, and prove myself through results."

He also cautiously explained the transfer of authority to basic local governments.

Min commented, "Since the election is still ongoing, it is difficult to speak hastily, but fundamentally, my consistent political philosophy has been to transfer as much authority as possible to basic local governments." He added, "For example, the appointments of deputy heads in each city, county, and district have typically been handled as though the metropolitan city or province had sole authority, but going forward, the special mayor will not exercise appointment authority in such personnel exchanges."

He also presented a direction for balanced development among regions following integration.

Min stated, "In my mind, there is no longer a boundary between Jeonnam and Gwangju," clarifying, "The very idea of dividing east and west is not the right approach for preparing an integrated special city." He further emphasized, "The integrated special city is one city—there will be no prioritization or exclusion based on whether it is Jeonnam, Gwangju, or any specific area."

Min added, "Since balanced development is stipulated by law, we will avoid giving preferential treatment to any particular region. Instead, we will promote balanced development that leverages the unique strengths of each area, not uniform growth. We have included special provisions in the Integrated Special Act to support the development of at least one specialized industry in each city, county, and district."

Finally, Min concluded, "We will refine our policies to leverage regional characteristics and competitiveness," and added, "Rather than a discriminatory approach based on simple spatial divisions, we will pursue a comprehensive development strategy that encompasses the whole."

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