Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Friday that the government will actively support efforts to ensure that special provisions for industrial base development and investment condition improvements are refined to a level where they can be practically implemented, regarding the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City set to launch in about 70 days.
"We will actively support not only guarantees of organizational autonomy and fiscal incentives, but also the concretization of special provisions for building industrial infrastructure and improving investment conditions to a level where they can actually be executed," Kim said at the "Meeting to Review Launch Preparations for the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City" held at the Government Complex in Seoul.
Kim emphasized that "the launch of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City is a core national task aimed at overcoming the unbalanced growth structure centered on the Seoul metropolitan area and expanding the foundation for Korea's future growth." He added, "With local elections approaching, we must complete the necessary institutional arrangements without delay and push forward with speed to minimize administrative gaps and confusion."
"Matters related to residents' daily lives, such as the restructuring of civil affairs processing systems and the revision of local ordinances following integration, must also be carefully managed for the effects of administrative integration to translate into substantive regional growth," he said. "Above all, the two local governments must cooperate closely as one team beyond regional interests, and swiftly and systematically address key pending issues necessary for the launch, including the redistribution of organizations and authority."
Regarding the Yeosu World Island Expo scheduled for September, Kim said, "As the first major event to be held in this region after integration, with high expectations both inside and outside, it will serve as a touchstone for gauging the capabilities of the integrated self-governing city."
