Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun: "Special Cities Must Take Active Role in Win-Win Cooperation with Depopulation Risk Areas"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jeong Jun-sung] Suwon Special City Mayor Lee Jae-jun said, "Special cities must take an active role in win-win cooperation with depopulation risk areas."

Attending the 2025 second half regular meeting of the Republic of Korea Special Cities Mayors Council held at the Baekseok Annex of Goyang City Hall on the 21st, Mayor Lee Jae-jun stated, "If special cities take the lead in win-win cooperation with depopulation risk areas and leading balanced development, the enactment of the 'Special Cities Support Special Act' will also gain momentum," and added, "The government has set the '5 poles and 3 special cities' national balanced growth strategy as a core task, so let us discuss how special cities can contribute to the 5 poles and 3 special cities strategy."

Attending the regular meeting were Suwon Special City Mayor Lee Jae-jun, Hwaseong Special City Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun as council chair, Yongin Special City Mayor Lee Sang-il, Goyang Special City Mayor Lee Dong-hwan, and Changwon Special City Director of Self-Governance Administration Jung Suk-i.

The meeting proceeded with opening remarks from attendees including Mayor Lee Jae-jun, a presentation of special authority development research projects, a report on special cities initiatives, and agenda discussions.

The Republic of Korea Special Cities Mayors Council signed a win-win cooperation agreement with the Depopulation Area Mayors and County/District Heads Council on April 28, and committed to joining forces to overcome the local extinction crisis and achieve regional balanced and mutual development. Following the agreement, the council delivered a "Proposal for Activating Joint Cooperation between Depopulation Areas and Special Cities" to the National Assembly Administration and Safety Committee Chair, requesting administrative and financial support for joint cooperation activation projects.

Suwon City cooperated with Bonghwa County, a depopulation risk area, to establish the "Cheongryangsan Suwon Camping Site" in Bonghwa County, which has been in operation since October.

The council delivered a "Proposal for Enactment of a Special Act on Support for Special Cities" to the Presidential Planning and Coordination Committee on July 9. On September 22, it delivered a "Proposal for Support on Enactment of a Special Act on Support for Special Cities" to Minister of Administration and Safety Yoon Ho-joong and requested administrative and financial cooperation to activate joint cooperation projects between depopulation areas and special cities.

At the presidential office national briefing session for mayors and heads of counties and districts held on the 12th, Hwaseong Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun, chair of the Republic of Korea Special Cities Mayors Council, proposed to President Lee Jae-myung the enactment of a special act on support for special cities.

The Special Cities Mayors Council discussed agendas on this day including △joint research project on AI adoption within the administrative system △meeting with the National Assembly Administration and Safety Committee △request for direct assignment of long-term education and training personnel by the Ministry of Administration and Safety.