Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon must advance together

Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo stressed the importance of greater Seoul metropolitan integration on the 26th, stating, "If the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi, is to compete with China's Shandong Province, Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi must advance together."

Governor Kim went to the South Chungcheong Provincial Government Office in Daejeon and approved the "South Chungcheong-Gyeonggi Honorary Governor Operating Plan" before delivering a special lecture to provincial staff. He said, "China has continued its high-flying growth with economic growth rates of 11-12 percent over the past four years," and added, "To respond to this, North and South Korea must be unified, and the entire nation must unite as one."

He continued, "Currently, Gyeonggi residents commute to Seoul by bus or subway, but they are experiencing great inconvenience due to incompatible transportation cards." He added, "We will pursue 'transportation integration' among the three cities and provinces by next year and achieve lifestyle integration through crematoriums and waste disposal facilities."

He emphasized, "Rather than continuing to divide Daejeon and South Chungcheong, integrating administration will raise their status in foreign trade and domestically."

Regarding regulations on the Seoul metropolitan area, he argued, "Currently, in northern Gyeonggi areas such as Yeoncheon, military protection facility zones account for 44 percent, and four local governments are counties with populations of fewer than 100,000, yet they are subject to regulations simply because they are in the Seoul metropolitan area. Such contradictions must be corrected."

Regarding the construction of an administrative city in the Yeonji and Gongju areas, he stated, "Frankly, the administrative city is merely a relocation of Gwacheon in Gyeonggi, and South Chungcheong can never develop with just an administrative city. We must attract large enterprises like Samsung Electronics' Tangjeong complex and Hyundai Steel to increase employment and income and enable the region to develop through affiliated companies," he emphasized.

After the special lecture, Governor Kim received a business briefing from provincial executives. Regarding the Janghang National Industrial Complex, which has been adrift for 17 years, he said, "I cannot rationally understand why Janghang, which has better location conditions than Gunsan, is not progressing well," and added, "Going forward, I will actively cooperate to ensure this project moves forward smoothly," receiving applause from staff.

Governor Kim said, "Going forward, we should prepare a report containing the necessity of developing the Janghang Industrial Complex and have it adopted as a pledge by presidential candidates next year to promote it as a national project."

Governor Kim's visit to the South Chungcheong Provincial Government Office came following a meeting between Governor Kim and South Chungcheong Governor Lee Wan-gu in Cheonan, South Chungcheong in July, in which they agreed that at appropriate times, governors from both provinces would make cross-visits to provincial government offices, deliver lectures on the future of both provinces, and serve as "honorary governors for a day." Governor Lee also visited the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office that day to deliver a special lecture to staff and receive business briefings.