Min Hyung-bae Vows to Reignite Momentum for Constitutional Amendment from the Integrated Special City

Emphasizing the Spirit of May 18 and Local Autonomy in the Constitution
Public Request for Legal and Institutional Support from the Democratic Party

Min Hyung-bae, the elected special mayor of the Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City, announced plans to use the administrative integration of Jeonnam and Gwangju as a starting point for constitutional amendment discussions.

At the on-site Supreme Council meeting of the Democratic Party of Korea held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju on June 12, Min stated, "Including the spirit of May in the preamble to the Constitution and establishing a constitutional foundation for citizen sovereignty and local autonomy are tasks that can no longer be postponed," adding, "With the launch of the Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City, I will work to reignite momentum for constitutional amendment discussions."

On the 8th, Min Hyung-bae, the elected special mayor of the Jeonnam-Gwangju integration, gave a greeting at the launch ceremony of the Jeonnam-Gwangju-Daejeon Transformation Planning Committee held at the Bitgaram Complex Culture and Sports Center in Naju, Jeonnam. Photo by Yonhap News.

He also requested party-level support to ensure the success of the integrated special city. Min emphasized, "Support from the Democratic Party, the Lee Jae-myung government of citizen sovereignty, and the National Assembly is absolutely essential for the path of Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City," and stated, "It is necessary to concretize and institutionalize legal backing and support." Regarding the recent discussions on semiconductor investment, he added, "Please help ensure that large corporation investments can proceed smoothly."

Regarding the Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City, which is set to launch on July 1, Min described it as "the beginning of overcoming the history of discrimination and marginalization since liberation," and said, "It is about dismantling, through the power of integration, the boundaries between Jeonnam and Gwangju that were drawn by Chun Doo-hwan’s new military regime and establishing a new order."

He further stated, "Ultimately, integration is the path to fulfilling the spirit of May in Gwangju," and pledged, "We will open an integrated special city where citizens are the true owners, carrying on the vision of the Donghak Peasant Army and the May Gwangju movement for a great world of equality."

Min also declared, "I will make the Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City a successful case of a Democratic Party-led local government," and added, "I will do my utmost to ensure that the growth of Jeonnam and Gwangju leads to the success of the Democratic Party, the Lee Jae-myung administration, and the Republic of Korea."

Meanwhile, Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae, at the Supreme Council meeting, emphasized the necessity of including the spirit of May 18 in the preamble to the Constitution, and stated, "We will concentrate our party's efforts on developing special administrative measures and securing support totaling 20 trillion won over four years, as well as obtaining additional fiscal incentives, so that the Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City becomes a successful model for balanced national development."

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