Hwaseong City Launches Joint Research on Integration of Three Cities

Hwaseong City announced on the 12th that it will formally begin the 'Research Project on Local Administrative System Reorganization,' which the mayors of Suwon, Hwaseong, and Osan agreed to jointly pursue on February 23rd.

The research project was facilitated through the mediation of National Assemblyman Ahn Min-seok to prevent futile disputes regarding local administrative system reorganization and to resolve conflicts between local governments, and is being carried out under an agreement by the three city mayors.

Following the signing of the three-city agreement, Hwaseong City has held operational agreements related to project directives and consultation meetings. Based on this, the city signed a research contract with the Korean Association for Public Administration on March 27th and plans to hold a project kickoff meeting in April.

The Korean Association for Public Administration has appointed Professor Choi Young-chul from Chungbuk National University as the principal researcher. Over the next six months, the association is expected to review the current status and development plans of the three cities, forecast the growth potential of each city through 2020, and conduct intensive analysis on cost-benefit issues affecting residents.

The city expects that the conflicts between residents and among cities that arose from discussions on integrating the three cities will be resolved through this joint research project.