Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City Council Opens 2nd Extraordinary Session... First Work Reports Since Integration

10-Day Session from the 13th to the 22nd
Intensive Review of Municipal and Educational Policy Directions
Song Hyungon: "Focusing on Both Semiconductors and Rural Communities"

The Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City Council convened its 2nd extraordinary session on the 13th, marking the start of full-fledged legislative activities by receiving the first work reports on municipal and educational administration since the launch of the Integrated Special City.

The Council will hold the extraordinary session for ten days from today until the 22nd, during which it will conduct work reports on overall municipal and educational administration and review ordinance bills.

This session is the first to be held since the formation of the Council's leadership and serves as the first official platform to review the executive branch’s policy directions and major issues following the launch of the Integrated Special City.

The Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City Council held an opening ceremony on the 13th at the Jeonnam (Namaak) Government Complex, officially declaring the launch of the nation’s first integrated metropolitan council. Photo by Shim Jinseok

On the first day of the session, the plenary meeting included policy speeches from Min Hyeongbae, Mayor of the Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City, and Kim Daejung, Superintendent of Education, outlining the directions for municipal and educational administration in 2026.

From the 14th, each standing committee will receive reports on the main work plans for the second half of 2026 from the respective departments under their jurisdiction and will review key policies and pending projects of the Integrated Special City. Deliberation on various agenda items, including ordinance bills, will also take place.

The 2nd plenary meeting, scheduled for the 22nd, will conclude the session by finalizing decisions on agenda items reviewed by the standing committees.

In his opening address, Council Chair Song Hyungon stated, "The 1st Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City Council aims to be the leading policy council in Korea," adding, "We will meticulously review policies and budgets and propose effective alternatives so that the achievements of integration can translate into improved lives for citizens and changes in the regional economy."

He particularly emphasized fostering the semiconductor industry as a future growth strategy for the Integrated Special City.

Chair Song said, "The Council’s first ordinance, the 'Global Semiconductor Strategic Investment Support Ordinance,' and my first approval as Chair, the plan to establish a strategic investment support system for semiconductors, express our commitment to fostering semiconductors as the city's future growth engine. The Council will actively support the formation of a virtuous cycle of corporate investment, job creation, and expansion of living infrastructure through legislative and budgetary measures."

On the other hand, alongside growth strategies, resolving rural and fishing village issues was also presented as a key task.

Chair Song emphasized, "Agriculture and fisheries are the lifeline industries of the Integrated Special City. We will respond more proactively to the realities facing rural and fishing communities, such as population decline, climate crisis, and income instability, and faithfully reflect voices from the field in legislation and budgets to substantially improve the lives of residents."

He added, "We will create a council of mutual growth and balance so that Jeonnam and Gwangju prosper together, prioritizing the interests of all 3.2 million citizens without bias toward any particular region. By building an open council where 91 assembly members and 3.2 million citizens can communicate freely, we will underpin the success of the Integrated Special City."

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