Gwangju Metropolitan Council: "Progress on Integrated Special Act... Council Structure Needs Improvement"

Welcoming Passage by Public Administration Committee, but Regretting Exclusion of Some Special Provisions

The Gwangju Metropolitan Council welcomed the passage of the integrated bill for the establishment of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City by the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee, calling it "a significant step forward for the future of the region." At the same time, it expressed regret that some special provisions were excluded, while stressing that further improvements are needed during the subsequent legislative process.

Gwangju Metropolitan City Council building.

On February 13, the Gwangju Metropolitan Council issued a statement, saying, "The fact that the integrated bill has passed the first hurdle in the National Assembly after much difficulty is the result of responsible discussions and consultations continued by public officials of Gwangju City and Jeollanam-do, the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee, and local members of the National Assembly, despite challenging circumstances."

Regarding the passage, the council stated, "It is painful that many special provisions were excluded during consultations with the government, but it is meaningful in that it has secured future growth engines and mechanisms for democratic oversight and control."

In particular, it positively assessed the inclusion of key provisions aimed at innovating the regional ecosystem, such as: the creation of an AI convergence complex and testbed district, the establishment of a foundation for an energy self-sufficient city, support for the transition to carbon neutrality, and support for an integrated national medical school.

The council also highlighted the establishment of "checks and balances" mechanisms that had been requested during the Public Administration and Security Committee’s review. It evaluated as "an important step forward in securing the democratic legitimacy of the integrated city" the introduction of confirmation hearings for vice mayors, the granting of consent authority for the appointment of the chairperson of the audit committee, and the explicit requirement that, when determining the number of seats in the integrated special metropolitan council, the existing populations and regional representativeness of Gwangju and Jeonnam be comprehensively considered.

However, it presented as a task for improvement the fact that the specific number of council members in the integrated council and the method of their election have not been clearly stipulated. The council stated, "Because the structure of local councils is a core issue directly linked to citizen representation, it must not be left in an ambiguous state," adding that concrete measures need to be presented during the Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s review and the plenary voting process.

The Gwangju Metropolitan Council said, "We share the view that this resolution by the standing committee is not a final point but a new starting line," and added, "We hope that, in the remaining legislative process, the unfinished tasks will be completed so that Gwangju and Jeonnam can establish themselves as a new central axis of balanced development in the Republic of Korea." It continued, "As a representative body of citizens, we will thoroughly examine the entire process of the integration discussions to the end and strive to protect citizens’ rights and interests, ensure balanced integration, and strengthen local autonomy."

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