Gyeongnam Governor Park Wansu and Other Regional Leaders Urge Special Law Outlining Principles and Standards for Administrative Integration

Governors from five metropolitan and provincial governments across the country-Gyeongnam, Busan, Daejeon, Chungnam, Daegu, and Gyeongbuk-who are promoting large-scale administrative integration, have called on the government to establish the basic framework for a special law on administrative integration, including its principles and standards.

They voiced this unified stance at the joint meeting of metropolitan and provincial governors held at Kensington Hotel Yeouido in Seoul on February 2, 2026.

They also demanded institutional guarantees, such as fiscal decentralization, expanded legislative autonomy, and greater organizational authority, so that the integrated local governments can actually exercise their powers.

To facilitate smooth progress in the integration discussions, they requested a meeting with President Lee Jaemyung.

Kim Taeheum, Governor of Chungnam Province (far left), Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon, Yoo Jungbok, Mayor of Incheon, Park Hyungjun, Mayor of Busan, Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, and Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, gathered for a commemorative photo at the joint meeting of provincial governors related to administrative integration. Provided by Gyeongnam Province

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This joint meeting was proposed after Gyeongnam Province Governor Park Wansu and Busan Mayor Park Hyungjun announced a phased plan and joint position for administrative integration between the two regions on January 28.

The meeting was attended by Yoo Jungbok, Mayor of Incheon and Chair of the Council of City and Provincial Governors, Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, Park Hyungjun, Mayor of Busan, Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon, Kim Taeheum, Governor of Chungnam Province, and Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province.

Kim Jeonggi, Acting Mayor of Daegu, Kang Gijeong, Mayor of Gwangju, and Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, were reportedly absent due to scheduling conflicts.

The participants emphasized, "Administrative integration is a national task aimed at countering the concentration of power in the Seoul metropolitan area and achieving balanced national development."

They added, "Rather than a one-off support or incentive-based approach, it is essential to institutionally guarantee substantial autonomy for the integrated local governments by granting them real fiscal authority, administrative powers, legislative autonomy, and organizational authority."

They continued, "The central government must clearly present a roadmap that includes the principles, standards, status, and powers of integration, and proceed only after sufficient discussion based on gathering opinions from city and provincial governments and residents, as well as legal and institutional improvements. Rushing the process ahead of elections could lead to confusion and side effects."

The participating governors plan to deliver this joint position to the Office of the President.

Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province is speaking at the joint meeting of city and provincial governors regarding administrative integration. Photo by Gyeongnam Province

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At the meeting, Gyeongnam Province Governor Park Wansu stated, "Fiscal decentralization should take precedence over the government's proposed temporary support of 20 trillion won over four years," and added, "A fundamental restructuring of fiscal arrangements is needed, such as adjusting the current 80:20 ratio of national to local taxes to 60:40."

He further explained, "In Gyeongnam Province, the proportion of discretionary project budgets for local governments remains around 5 percent. The entire structure of national subsidy projects should be improved, including having the central government fully fund national policy projects and converting earmarked national subsidies into block grants."

He projected, "If the ratio of national to local taxes is adjusted to 60:40, more than 7.7 trillion won in resources can be secured permanently each year based on the 2024 fiscal year, which would provide a more sustainable engine for regional growth than one-off support."

He also pointed out, "In Gyeongnam Province, the current system restricts local ordinances to the scope set by presidential decrees, limiting the ability to quickly implement region-specific policies. Legislative autonomy should be expanded so that local governments can enact ordinances tailored to local conditions as long as they do not violate the law, and organizational authority should also be broadened to ensure efficient operation of the integrated local government after administrative integration."

Governor Park stated, "Although administrative integration falls under the authority of the central government, there has been insufficient discussion at the government level, such as forums or public hearings. Rather than rushing integration, the government should first present a roadmap and institutional guarantees that include the principles, standards, status, and powers of the integrated local government."

He added, "Temporary support, such as fiscal incentives, is not enough. The government should propose and enact a special law at the level of a basic integration act to provide an institutional framework that guarantees the powers and status of the integrated local government, enabling it to lead regional development."

Based on the discussions at this joint meeting, Gyeongnam Province plans to continue cooperating with other regions promoting administrative integration and to jointly respond so that the central government presents concrete measures for securing the status and substantial autonomy of the integrated local government.

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