Guri Mayor Shin Dong-hwa Requests Gyeonggi Province to Normalize 'Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Development Corporation (GH) Relocation to Guri'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Eom In-yong] On the 22nd, Guri City formally requested Gyeonggi Province to promptly resume administrative procedures for the Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Development Corporation (GH) relocation to Guri, which had been suspended during the previous administration, at the '9th Popular Ballot Term Governor-Mayors and County Heads Meeting' held at the Gwanggyo Hall of the Gyeonggi Economic Science and Promotion Agency.

At the meeting, Mayor Shin Dong-hwa stated, "The joy of winning election is short-lived, and I keenly feel the limitations of the northern Gyeonggi region, with the city's financial self-reliance rate remaining at 25% amid an empty municipal treasury and collapsed alleyway commerce," and emphasized, "Now, 'balanced development within the Seoul metropolitan area' should become Korea's new hope, transcending national balanced development."

The GH Guri relocation had progressed smoothly following the relocation confirmation in May 2021 and the signing of a tripartite agreement among Gyeonggi Province, Guri City, and GH in June of the same year, with nine rounds of working-level consultations conducted. However, when controversy over 'Seoul annexation push' emerged during the previous administration, Gyeonggi Province announced a suspension in February 2025, leaving the project in a prolonged stalemate.

Addressing Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, Mayor Shin stated, "The 'GH Guri relocation,' which is my number-one campaign promise, is the most solemn pledge to citizens, and I will make it a top priority during my term and demonstrate concrete results within one year without fail," expressing strong sense of responsibility and determination.

He continued, "Now that the obstacle of Seoul annexation has disappeared, I request that Gyeonggi Province normalize the stalled procedures with momentum under the shared goal of balanced development."

Meanwhile, the meeting, attended by Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae and heads of 31 cities and counties in the province, shared the policy direction for the 9th Popular Ballot Term and adopted a joint declaration for mutual cooperation and shared growth (including establishment of a policy cooperation committee and regularization of town hall meetings), opening a full-fledged collaborative governance era.