President Lee Meets Governors: "Balanced Development Is a Survival Strategy... Cooperation Needed Beyond Party Lines"

The First Central-Local Cooperation Meeting of the Ninth Local Government Administration

"Decentralization and Balanced Development are the Solutions to Capital Area Overconcentration"

Seven-Point Support Package Including Fiscal, Financial,

On August 26, President Lee Jae-myung stated, "Balanced development is not a matter of choice or charity, but an essential strategy for the survival and sustained growth of Korea," expressing his intent to further strengthen local autonomy and balanced national development. He emphasized that, "Although there may be differences in party affiliation or political stance, we are representatives entrusted by the people," and called on both central and local governments to work together to solve the issues of regional extinction and excessive concentration in the capital area, beyond political interests.

President Lee Jae-myung is taking a commemorative photo with participants at the 10th Central-Local Cooperation Meeting held at the Blue House on the 26th. August 26, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

President Lee presided over the 10th Central-Local Cooperation Meeting held at the Blue House that afternoon. It was the first meeting held since the launch of the 9th popularly elected local governments, attended by government officials such as Prime Minister Han Sung-sook, Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yoon-chul, Minister of Education Choi Gyo-jin, Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung, and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-gwan, as well as Park Chan-dae, Mayor of Incheon and chair of the Council of Provincial Governors, along with 16 mayors and provincial governors.

From this meeting onwards, the membership has been expanded to enhance the representation of basic local governments. New participants included Jo Jae-gu, President of the National Association of Mayors, County Governors, and District Chiefs, Oh Se-hyun, Mayor of Asan, and Kim Chul-woo, County Chief of Boseong, who represented basic local governments.

In his opening remarks, President Lee diagnosed, "The starting point for virtually all major problems facing Korea is severe regional imbalance," adding, "Seoul and the capital area are excessively overcrowded and facing the risk of explosion, while local regions are, conversely, facing existential threats due to depopulation." He went on to say, "This is leading to a decline in the efficiency of the entire country and is also eroding national competitiveness."

He further stated, "The multi-polarization of strategic super-gap industries symbolized by the three mega projects will be the key to ushering in an era of growth for all," and promised, "We will focus on fostering industries and jobs in the 5 Regions and 3 Special Zones and will make every effort to improve living conditions such as housing, education, and welfare."

Redesigning the National Land with 5 Regions and 3 Special Zones... Nurturing 3 to 4 'Growth Engines' per Region

At the meeting, policy tools to implement the vision of balanced development were discussed in detail. The agenda included five items: ▲ Central-local cooperation plans for the 9th popularly elected governments ▲ Strategies for local-led growth ▲ Plans to foster regional growth engines linked to the three mega projects ▲ Directions for fiscal investment to promote balanced regional growth ▲ Amendments to the operating plans of the Central-Local Cooperation Meeting.

First, the government presented its "National Land Transformation" strategy, which involves redesigning the national land, industries, and institutions to center around the 5 Regions and 3 Special Zones under its "Local-Led Growth Promotion Plan." The plan includes creating economic zones at the 5 Regions and 3 Special Zones scale, promoting corporate investment and locally led economic zone formation, supporting living condition improvement packages, and redesigning preferential systems for local governments—all to be pushed forward on a pan-government basis.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said it will select and intensively nurture three to four 'growth engines' per region based on corporate investment and each region's strengths and growth potential. The selected industries will receive seven major policy support packages—finance, financial services, tax, regulatory, technology, talent, and infrastructure—as well as intensive support in the form of 'mega special zones.' The government intends to leverage the three mega projects, which are currently being promoted, not just as individual large-scale investment projects but as levers to bolster local industrial ecosystems.

The Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning announced plans to strengthen local preferential treatment in fiscal management as well. In order to create the 5 Regions and 3 Special Economic and Living Zones and generate jobs that attract the youth, the government will concentrate fiscal investment in ▲ local strategic industries and jobs ▲ improvement of living conditions ▲ healthcare and education, while expanding fiscal autonomy for local governments.

Woo Sangho: "SK's plan to come made the youths' eyes shine"... Lee Cheolwoo: "Move the Korean Food Promotion Institute to North Gyeongsang"

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the 10th Central-Local Cooperation Meeting held at the Blue House on August 26, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

Local governments also presented regional growth strategies and called for regulatory and institutional improvements on the ground. Gangwon Province Governor Woo Sangho said, "With SK promising to come to Gangwon Province, the eyes of the local youth are shining," adding, "We have agreed with local university presidents to cultivate customized talent." However, he also noted that the issue of landmine removal remains a stumbling block in the process of promoting resident-participatory renewable energy projects in the border region, and requested the Ministry of National Defense's support.

Gyeongbuk Province Governor Lee Cheolwoo brought laughter to participants by remarking, "Jeollanam-do will probably do well because they picked a good president, but even when we elect our own regional presidents, they don’t do much for us." He continued, "In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where machines replace people, the food industry is the work for humans," and outlined his plan to develop a food Hallyu (Korean wave) industry centered on Gyeongbuk, which is rich in food ingredients. He also requested that North Gyeongsang be considered as a candidate location for the relocation of the Korean Food Promotion Institute.

Jo Jae-gu, Chief of Nam District in Daegu, expressed his gratitude for the expanded participation of basic local government representatives in the Central-Local Cooperation Meeting, saying, "As a president who previously served as both head of a basic and metropolitan local government, I appreciate that you readily reflected this and recognized local government," and pledged, "Regardless of party affiliation or personal loyalties, we will listen closely to the voices of residents from the closest possible place to them, without being bound by partisan interests."

President Lee: "Even if our positions differ, let’s cooperate to improve people's lives"

Wrapping up the meeting, President Lee once again highlighted 'cooperation' between the central and local governments. He said, "Although there may be differences in party or political stance, we are nonetheless representatives entrusted by the public, and it remains unchanged that we are public officials who must work for a better life for the people and the future of the country."

He added, "Even when our positions differ, it is desirable to cooperate as much as possible to improve the lives of both residents and the public, and the most powerful means of solving the problems caused by concentration in the capital area is ultimately to strengthen local autonomy and balanced regional development."

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