2024-07-22 14:22:13
The Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province will immediately pursue the designation of a special city when the Wanju-Jeonju integration is completed. If the integration of Wanju-gun and Jeonju-si in Jeonbuk is successful, the designation of a special city will be swiftly pursued, and accordingly, the relocation of public facilities, SOC projects connecting Wanju and Jeonju, the creation of tourism and industrial complexes, and land development within the special city are expected to be promoted with a sense of urgency.
Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Governor Kim Kwan-young announced on the 22nd, “If Jeonju-si and Wanju-gun are integrated, we will push for the designation of a special city as quickly as possible and transfer the governor’s authority to the special city to provide more autonomy and diverse development opportunities.” It is expected that a groundbreaking turning point for regional development will be created as the governor’s authority is boldly transferred to the integrated city.
Governor Kim emphasized at a press conference held in the provincial government briefing room on this day, “I will make the integrated city of Wanju and Jeonju a strong and solid central city of Jeollabuk-do comparable to a metropolitan city.”
If Jeonju-si and Wanju-gun are integrated and designated as special cities, they will be granted the same autonomous authority and discretion as metropolitan cities, and administrative efficiency will improve, enabling high-quality administrative services to be provided to residents.
Representative examples include the expansion of authority to permit construction and land use in special cities, and the direct designation of tourism special zones and residential development zones, which will contribute to the expansion of infrastructure and economic development in the integrated city.
In addition, when selecting welfare recipients, the property value calculation standard will be applied at the metropolitan level, allowing more residents to receive social welfare benefits, and financial autonomy will be greatly expanded through various financial special provisions.
Governor Kim said, “The integration of Wanju and Jeonju is not a matter of taking sides, but rather a matter of our survival, so it is necessary.”
Wanju-gun and Jeonju-si are partners who have lived and grown together, and they can create a virtuous cycle by combining and complementing the strengths of both regions, creating quality jobs, and improving the quality of life of residents.
Wanju-gun and Jeonju-si were originally one, shared a common history, and grew together as a single living area, sharing many functions.
The goal is to not only resolve the inconveniences of residents by aligning their living, economic, and transportation spheres with administrative districts, but also to foster the region as a place where young people and businesses can visit in response to the extinction of local communities.
On July 12, discussions on integration began when a petition for integration between Wanju and Jeonju containing the signatures of the citizens of Wanju County, the main body of the integration, was submitted to the province after review by Wanju County.
Accordingly, based on the relevant laws, the governor must attach his/her opinion on the integrated proposal to the proposal and submit it to the ‘Local Government Era Committee’ directly under the president.
Governor Kim said, “Administrative-led discussions on the integration of the two cities and counties have fallen through several times so far,” and added, “Since the current integration discussions began in earnest with the submission of a proposal for integration by Wanju residents, I hope that a forum for discussion led by residents will be created so that a plan for mutually beneficial development that everyone desires will be presented.”
He also said, “Please refrain from making one-sided claims, crude accusations, and slander, and instead engage in rational and productive discussions based on facts.” He emphasized, “This petition for city/county integration through residents’ signatures is the first of its kind in the country, and it is the beginning of an advanced model in Jeollabuk-do where residents directly participate in important tasks such as administrative district integration and seek solutions.”
In order to alleviate concerns among the citizens of Wanju County about the reduction in the education, welfare, and agricultural budgets, a “period for maintaining the expenditure budget ratio” will be established by ordinance by the end of this year so that the investment resources and benefits prior to integration can be maintained for a certain period of time after integration.
In addition, we plan to propose full administrative and financial support to the government for the stable settlement of the integrated city, while also preparing a blueprint for balanced development in Jeollabuk-do that takes into account the integrated city that will become the central city of Jeollabuk-do.
Governor Kim said, “I hope that the discussion on the integration of Jeonju and Wanju will proceed in the direction indicated by the compass of the times, tremblingly but fiercely and boldly,” and asked for “the support and cooperation of the residents of the province going forward.”
Queen Choi Ha Na, reporter photo Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province
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2024-07-22 14:22:13