Suwon, Hwaseong, and Osan Pursue Joint Administrative Division Reform Project

Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young, Hwaseong Mayor Chae In-seok, and Osan Mayor Kwak Sang-wook agreed on the 23rd to establish a mutual cooperation committee for administrative division reform in Suwon, Hwaseong, and Osan, and to pursue a joint research project.

The three mayors held a launch ceremony for the mutual cooperation committee and signed a joint research project agreement at the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly briefing room that day.

Through a joint declaration from the mutual cooperation committee, they stated: "We express reflection and concern over the conflicts and disputes between the three local governments that have occurred due to administrative division adjustments," and "administrative division adjustments must not be done in an artificial or unilateral manner."

They also said: "The mutual cooperation committee will practice King Jeongjo's love for the people and reform ideas to contribute to the welfare and well-being of residents," and "we will cooperate in various fields including transportation, education, economy, and culture."

At the joint research project agreement ceremony for administrative division reform in Suwon, Hwaseong, and Osan, the three mayors signed an agreement entrusting the research project to the Korean Society for Public Administration for six months from March to August, which includes provisions for disclosing results, holding regional discussion forums and public hearings, and prohibiting individual claims and controversies during the research process.

For fairness and neutrality of the joint research project, oversight and supervision authority was entrusted to the mutual cooperation committee established that day.

The mutual cooperation committee is composed of a total of nine members, including not only the three mayors but also three university professors recommended by each mayor and three religious leaders representing the religious community.

The three cities of Suwon, Hwaseong, and Osan saw their integration initiative collapse in 2008, and when the government re-announced the administrative division reform plan last September, disputes between residents in favor and against in each region reignited.

In this context, the three mayors reached prior agreement in November last year to pursue a joint research project on administrative division reform, and after expert meetings and other proceedings, they established the mutual cooperation committee and concluded the joint research project agreement.