Administrative Integration Must Be Done Through Resident Referendums

On October 1st, Kim Jin-pyo, Democratic Party Supreme Council Member, who formally announced his candidacy for Gyeonggi Province Governor, criticized the government’s revision plan for Sejong City as ‘creating an unhappy city,’ emphasizing that Gyeonggi Province’s advanced industry infrastructure should not be diverted to Sejong City.

Regarding discussions on administrative district integration, he emphasized the ‘resident referendum method,’ and when asked about his future plans for higher political office, he stated, “I will focus on implementing the principles I outlined when announcing my candidacy for Gyeonggi Province Governor.”

- What is your position regarding the Sejong City issue?

▲ Sejong City is supposed to be a happy city where mutual prosperity can be achieved, but due to attracting businesses, it is creating a city of conflict and unhappiness.

Samsung has invested 100 trillion won in Suwon, Hwaseong, and Yongin over the years, and there are 30,000 companies in the clusters that have been developed there.

If we take out even a few hundred of them, how can we compete and win against Japan, Germany, and the United States? To prevent this, we must also win in the local elections. If that happens, we will be able to prevent advanced industries in Gyeonggi Province from being diverted to Sejong City.

- Is there a possibility of coalition in the opposition?

▲ I believe that unity and integration among opposition parties is something the people demand. Political parties and platforms with the same party principles should be integrated as much as possible. Would anyone think that the Democratic Party and the Citizens Participation Party have different pledges?

We must create a coalition to achieve a larger purpose—to hold the current government accountable—and then we will be able to certainly execute that judgment.

- There will inevitably be a primary within the Democratic Party over the governor candidate in the future, and Representative Lee Jong-geol has proposed a citizen participation primary method. What do you think?

▲ The primary method will be conducted according to party constitutional provisions and regulations. We need to see who can be viewed as competitive in the general election. In that sense, Representative Lee Jong-geol will be a good fellow traveler and a good competitor.

Above all, the candidate must be one chosen by party members and the people.

- How do you think administrative district integration should be handled?

▲ Administrative district reorganization should be conducted through a resident referendum method rather than hastily. There is a Special Committee on Local Government Reform that both the ruling and opposition parties agreed upon. We must establish related laws, create an overall system, and conduct orderly administrative district reorganization so there is no confusion among the people.

- Plans for coalition with education superintendent candidate and running mate?

▲ Under current law, a running mate arrangement with the education superintendent is not appropriate. The execution of substantial personnel affairs and budget implementation in the education sector is the responsibility of the education superintendent.

My advocacy as “an education-focused governor” means I will support the education sector. I will cooperate with the education superintendent on industry-academic collaboration and lifelong education issues to ensure proper education is provided.