Assemblyman Jinho Gun Urges Inclusion of Agriculture and Fisheries as Core Strategy in Integrated Metropolitan City

Food Security and Countering Regional Extinction:
The Core of Jeonnam's Future

Concerns Over Downgrading from Independent Bureaus to a Headquarters

Guaranteeing Authority and Organizational Independence

Criticism has been raised that agriculture and fisheries, the foundational industries of Jeonnam, are being pushed to the sidelines in the planning process for the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City.

Jinho Gun, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member (Democratic Party of Korea, Gokseong), strongly urged during a five-minute free speech at the 399th temporary session's third plenary meeting held on June 19 that agriculture and fisheries must be included as a core strategy in the process of launching the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City.

Jinho Geon, Member of the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly.

Assemblyman Gun pointed out, "While it is positive that the Grand Transition Planning Committee belatedly established the Special Committee on Agricultural Transformation and the Special Committee on Islands, Oceans, and Fisheries, why were agriculture and fisheries, which are central to Jeonnam's economy, not included as a fundamental component from the outset in the design of the integrated metropolitan city?"

He especially emphasized that, as of this year, the supplementary budget for Jeonnam Province allocates more than 2 trillion won to the agriculture, forestry, maritime, and fisheries sector, accounting for over one-sixth of the total budget, making it the largest policy sector after social welfare.

Assemblyman Gun stated, "Agriculture and fisheries are essential for food security and as a countermeasure to regional extinction, and they are a core strategic industry in the era of climate crisis," adding, "In the process of planning the future of Jeonnam, agriculture and fisheries should be addressed as a central strategy, not relegated to the periphery."

He also expressed concern over the recently announced reorganization plan for the integrated metropolitan city, pointing out that, unlike the current structure in which the Agriculture, Livestock and Food Bureau and the Fisheries and Oceans Bureau of Jeonnam Province each function as independent bureaus, the new plan consolidates them into a single 'Agriculture and Fisheries Headquarters' under the Deputy Mayor for Economic and Agricultural Affairs.

Assemblyman Gun emphasized, "While administrative efficiency is important, the nature of work and the voices from the field in agricultural policy and maritime and fisheries policy differ greatly," stressing that "during the reorganization stage, it is imperative to guarantee substantial authority and organizational independence so that the expertise and policy status of agriculture and fisheries are not diminished."

He also pointed out that, during the period of the provincial assembly's plenary session and the supplementary budget review on June 10–11, the Grand Transition Planning Committee held a work-sharing meeting for Jeonnam and Gwangju directors and bureau chiefs, resulting in some directors and chiefs being absent from the plenary session.

He added, "This is not to say that preparations for launching the integrated metropolitan city are unimportant, but plenary sessions and budget deliberations at the assembly, as the representative body of residents, are fundamental procedures of local autonomy," strongly urging for prior coordination that sufficiently takes into account future assembly sessions and major schedules.

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