Councilman Choi Seon-guk Warns "Centralizing Planning, Budget, and Personnel Could Lead to a Modern Caste System"

Call for Enactment of Basic Ordinance on Balanced Development for Integrated Metropolitan City
"Institutional Measures Needed to Prevent Regional Conflict"

During the organizational restructuring process of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City, concerns have been raised that if core powers such as planning, budgeting, organization, and personnel are concentrated in a specific government building, it could entrench internal imbalances within the civil service based on region of origin and background.

Seon-guk Choi, a member of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City Council (Democratic Party of Korea, Mokpo 1), suggested during the strategic policy office work report on July 14, "The principle of balanced development for the integrated metropolitan city should not remain a declaration, but must be institutionalized through an ordinance," proposing the enactment of the "Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City Basic Ordinance on Balanced Development."

Councilman Choi expressed concern that during the restructuring, the functions of planning, budgeting, organization, and personnel could all become centralized in one location.

He argued, "If key functions are clustered in one regional government building, it could create a structure that continually favors officials from that area," and stated, "As a result, opportunities for promotion and assignment could differ depending on one's regional background, effectively creating a 'modern caste system' based on one's origin."

He continued, "After integration, the policy and administrative needs previously managed separately by Jeonnam and Gwangju will arise simultaneously," emphasizing that "since civil servants from Jeonnam and Gwangju have accumulated different experiences and strengths by field, the restructuring must not be designed to favor one side over the other."

Seon-Guk Choi, former member of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Council.

In particular, he warned that if organizational and staffing imbalances persist over time, it could lead to a trend of officials avoiding postings in Jeonnam, and in the long run, it could even weaken the talent base for local administration.

In response, Myeongdo Son, Director of Policy Planning, replied, "I understand that some officials and residents are concerned about the issue of regional imbalance."

Changmo Yoon, acting Strategic Policy Director, also stated, "It is undesirable for power to be concentrated to one side."

Councilman Choi also pointed out that the principle of balanced development is not being sufficiently reflected during the process of developing the city’s legally mandated plans.

He noted that the strategic policy office’s report included only the establishment of the city’s master plan, while the development of area-specific balanced development plans, as stipulated by special legislation, was omitted.

Acting Director Yoon responded that matters related to regional balanced development would be included in the master plan.

In response, Councilman Choi countered, "The area-specific balanced development plan is stipulated separately under Article 5 of the special law, while the master plan is defined under Article 150. Since the legal provisions are separated, both plans should also be developed separately."

He also suggested including minimum standards for representation and distribution of authority by region in an ordinance.

Councilman Choi stated, "Just as the Framework Act on Gender Equality mandates a certain level of participation by each gender on committees, the integrated metropolitan city needs institutional safeguards to prevent regional imbalance."

He added, "Unless a clear principle for balanced development is established, distrust and regional conflict over the legitimacy of integration are bound to recur every time restructuring or personnel changes take place," and insisted, "Rather than responding after conflicts arise, the criteria should be institutionalized at the outset."

Acting Director Yoon expressed agreement with the need to establish a basic ordinance on balanced development and said he would actively review the proposal.

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