[Breaking] Integrated Municipality of Gwangju and Jeonnam Named "Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City"... Main Government Offices to Be Distributed

by Song Bohyeon

Published 27 Jan.2026 10:40(KST)

Updated 27 Jan.2026 11:11(KST)

Abbreviated Name to Be "Gwangju Special City"

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung is speaking at a breakfast meeting for lawmakers discussing the integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam, held on the 27th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. From the left: Mayor Kang, Yang Bunam, Chairman of the Gwangju City Party Committee, Kim Woni, Chairman of the Jeonnam Provincial Party Committee, and Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam Province. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The name of the integrated autonomous local government for Gwangju and Jeonnam will be "Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City," with the abbreviated name designated as "Gwangju Special City." The main government office will not be established separately; instead, the Gwangju City Hall, the Jeonnam Muan office, and the Jeonnam Eastern Region office will be utilized in a balanced manner.

On January 27, at the fourth meeting of mayors, governors, and lawmakers to review the "Gwangju-Jeonnam Special Act" held at the National Assembly, the mayors, governors, and lawmakers in attendance reached this agreement and plan to release further details soon.

Previously, Gwangju City and Jeonnam Province had disagreed on whether to name the integrated local government "Gwangju-Jeonnam Special City" or "Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City," and there had also been conflict over the location of the main government office.

With this agreement, the special law is expected to be proposed as early as this week, accelerating the push for administrative integration between Gwangju and Jeonnam.