Former and Incumbent Gyeongsangnam-do Governors Meet for First Time in 9th Term ... Kim Kyungsoo and Park Wansu: "Cooperate to Resolve Regional Issues"

The former and incumbent governors of Gyeongsangnam-do, who faced off in the ninth nationwide simultaneous local elections, met 104 days after the launch of the ninth popularly elected administration to discuss regional issues and ways to cooperate.

On the afternoon of October 12, Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Park Wansu sat down with Kim Kyungsoo, the president's special advisor for political affairs, who had visited the reception room at the provincial government office.

Governor Park said, "There are many pending issues that require help from the ruling party and the government, as well as the conveyance of Gyeongsangnam-do's position, including the second relocation of public institutions, attracting the headquarters of the five power generation companies as a unified entity, and relocating the Korea Naval Academy. I hope former Governor Kim, now serving as a special advisor for political affairs, will lend his support."

Special Advisor Kim said, "It is important to work with Gyeongsangnam-do for the region. I will convey matters that need to be brought to the government's attention and discuss any issues requiring consultation."

Presidential Special Advisor for Political Affairs Kim Kyungsoo (left) and South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wansu shake hands in the reception room. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]

According to Gyeongsangnam-do, during the closed-door meeting that day, Governor Park proposed relocating institutions connected to key industries in the province, including the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT).

He said that, in line with the government's key principles for the second relocation of public institutions, related institutions should be brought to Gyeongsangnam-do Innovation City, where the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) and the Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL) have already relocated, as the government had highlighted the links between institutions being relocated and regional strategic industries.

He added that more related institutions should be relocated to Gyeongsangnam-do, where the country's key industries, including shipbuilding, defense, aerospace, and nuclear power, are concentrated.

Governor Park also said the unified headquarters of the state-owned power generation companies should be located in Gyeongsangnam-do Innovation City, where Korea South-East Power's headquarters is based.

He emphasized that using existing facilities in Gyeongsangnam-do Innovation City, along with its power generation and energy industry infrastructure and established living conditions, would reduce relocation costs and strengthen links with related industries.

He also conveyed the need for the Korea Naval Academy, located in Jinhae-gu, Changwon, to remain in Jinhae.

He requested the government's cooperation, saying the Korea Naval Academy must not leave Jinhae in order to preserve the expertise of naval education and promote balanced regional development.

He also urged the swift enactment of the Special Act on the Construction and Support of an Aerospace Complex City and the Special Act on the Development of the Southern Coast Region, key projects for mutually beneficial cooperation being jointly pursued by Gyeongsangnam-do, Jeollanam-do, and other regions in Yeongnam and Honam.

He further proposed designating Gyeongsangnam-do, where advanced manufacturing industries such as aerospace, shipbuilding, and robotics are concentrated, as the "first mega special zone in the southeastern region" so it can serve as a hub for developing national strategic industries and driving regional growth.

Presidential Special Advisor for Political Affairs Kim Kyungsoo answers reporters' questions. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Special Advisor Kim said, "There can be no partisan divide when it comes to the development of Gyeongsangnam-do," and said they had agreed to cooperate on the second relocation of public institutions, attracting the unified headquarters of the state-owned power generation companies, and keeping the Korea Naval Academy in Jinhae.

However, he proposed closer ties among Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do, saying, "This will not be easy for Gyeongsangnam-do to accomplish alone. It will carry more weight if it is put forward as a joint demand by Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do."

He said, "The four provinces and cities in the Chungcheong region, which formed a special union, recently asked the government to improve the system so the union can play a substantive role. Administrative integration will take time, so I suggested to Governor Park that the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongsangnam-do region could also pursue shared issues through a special union."

Gyeongsangnam-do said Governor Park had indicated that he would consider pursuing a special union if the system were improved.

Gyeongsangnam-do announced a plan for administrative integration by 2028, with the following prerequisites: ▲ a bottom-up decision through a referendum ▲ securing the authority and status of the integrated local government ▲ the eventual integration of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do.

Governor Park has emphasized, "A simple integration without authority and status is meaningless. If local governments are integrated into a metropolitan-level government, it must be given the status and authority to be called a 'local government,' as the president has said."

Asked about his future political plans, Special Advisor Kim replied, "I am moving to Jinju next month."

He said, "The government is sincere about locally led growth and balanced development, making this a golden opportunity to develop western Gyeongsangnam-do, including Jinju and Sacheon, the most underdeveloped areas in the province. To make the most of this opportunity, wouldn't living in the region and speaking about it help gain the government's support?"

Regarding a possible run in the 2028 general election in the Jinju area, he said, "It is too early to talk about an election," adding, "I will prepare while keeping all political possibilities open."

The official meeting that day was the two men's first since the launch of the ninth popularly elected administration, and was arranged at Governor Park's suggestion.

When Kim, who served as governor of Gyeongsangnam-do during the seventh popularly elected administration and as chair of the Presidential Committee for the Balanced National Development, was appointed as the president's special advisor for political affairs, Governor Park called to congratulate him and propose a meeting, and Special Advisor Kim accepted.

Before their closed-door meeting that day, the two also exchanged pleasantries, asking about each other's health and sharing warm words about matters including Gyeongsangnam-do Residents' Day, which was reinstated during the eighth popularly elected administration.

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