The National Assembly of South Korea has passed a special law for the administrative integration of Jeonnam and Gwangju, paving the way for the election of the first mayor of the newly formed integrated special city in June.
On June 1st, the South Korean National Assembly passed the special law for the establishment of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City. This legislation allows for the election of its inaugural mayor during the local elections in June. The vote saw overwhelming support with 159 votes in favor out of 175 lawmakers present, highlighting a strong legislative endorsement for the integration effort. Additionally, amendments to the Local Government Act were approved, further solidifying the framework for local governance under the new city structure.
The special law confers a status comparable to that of Seoul on the new integrated city and introduces provisions for the establishment and operation of a balanced development fund within the city. It also allows for local debt issuance beyond usual limits under the Local Finance Act, potentially facilitating necessary development projects. Notably, the law establishes legal grounds for national financial support aimed at sectors such as petrochemicals and shipbuilding within the new city's industrial context, thus reinforcing the economic foundations of the integration.
Despite the progress on this law, efforts for other administrative integrations, such as those proposed for Chungnam-Daejeon and Daegu-Gyeongbuk, have stalled due to political disagreements. This indicates a complicated legislative environment around regional integration efforts in South Korea, as varying degrees of support for such initiatives are expressed by different political factions. The passage of this law marks a significant step towards enhancing local governance and could reshape the administrative landscape in the targeted regions.
