Summary of "[광주·전남 대통합 타운홀 미팅] 김영록 전남도지사에게 통합의 미래를 듣다 (광주 동구) / 2026.02.27"

Event and purpose

A town-hall was held in Dong‑gu, Gwangju to explain and gather resident feedback on the proposed administrative integration of Gwangju Metropolitan City and Jeollanam‑do into a single “integrated special city.” Governor Kim Young‑rok led the presentation. Local officials and civic leaders participated.

Main vision and promises

Aim: create a combined region of roughly 3.2 million people and grow toward 4 million by attracting industry, talent and residents. The area is to be branded as an AI‑energy capital and the core of a North–South semiconductor belt.
Central financial incentive announced by the national government:

Up to 5 trillion KRW per year for four years (total ~20 trillion KRW) to support the new integrated city.
- Governor Kim emphasized this funding as unusually flexible compared with past tagged grants.
- Timeline and legal steps: 1. A special law for integration was expected to pass and be promulgated in early March. 2. Administrative start of the integrated special city was discussed for July 1. 3. Some budget items may begin implementation next year. 4. Individual tax laws and transfers still require revision.

Industrial and spatial development plans

Redevelop the former Gwangju civilian airport site into a multi‑purpose advanced city including R&D/testbeds, convention centers, hotels, tourism, a potential theme-park and a tech campus (the “second Pangyo” idea).
Create a semiconductor and advanced packaging cluster around Gwangju–Jangseong, leveraging Gwangju’s AI/manpower and Jeonnam’s electricity/water/land resources.
Promote cross‑regional industry axes:
- AI and semiconductors
- Future mobility (autonomous vehicles, automotive semiconductors)
- Advanced bio‑health (bio devices, vaccines)
- Robotics and secondary‑battery industries
- Energy transition, ports and marine tourism in coastal cities
Relocate or attract national public institutions and agencies (examples discussed: Korea Data / K‑Data agencies, National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, Korea Environmental Corp., energy and agriculture bodies) to generate jobs and catalytic local economic effects.

Culture, tourism and democracy branding

Position Gwangju–Jeonnam as a global cultural capital centered on the Asia Culture Center and democratic heritage (May 18 movement).
Proposed measures:
- Create cultural complexes in Dong‑gu (museum branches, Peace Art Museum, creative residency spaces)
- Establish a cultural revival fund
- Seek K‑content center designation
- Create a World Democracy School
Governor suggested leveraging these assets to bid for and host international events (G20 in 2028 mentioned as an aspiration).

Social and local welfare measures

Continue and expand Jeonnam’s social policies across the integrated area, including:
- “Basic income at birth/child allowance” program (cited as up to 200,000 KRW monthly for children)
- 10,000‑won youth housing pilot (very low‑rent living for youth to support family formation)
- Public postpartum care centers
Emphasis on sustaining and universalizing successful Jeonnam welfare programs in Gwangju as part of integration.

Local governance, finance and administration

Strengthen district (gu) autonomy: transfer certain local grants and functions to district offices, increase resident participation (resident councils, participatory budgeting), and coordinate “wide‑area living area” efforts among neighboring jurisdictions.
Finance and legal challenges:
- The 20 trillion KRW incentive is not all written into a single special law; many measures will require amendments to individual tax and transfer laws (for example, capital gains tax, education tax).
- Governor indicated ongoing negotiations with ministries and the National Assembly; full implementation details are still being worked out.
Administrative continuity:
- Governor assured residents that everyday civil services (permits, welfare applications, payments) will continue through existing frameworks while integrated IT and complaint/payment systems are developed.

Transport and connectivity

Transport integration is a priority. Proposals include:
- Improved rail links (Gwangju–Daegu, Gwangju–Gyeongjeon line improvements)
- Expressway and space-expressway planning
- Creation of a 60‑minute living area across the integrated city
Resident concerns focused on commute times, transport fares and perceived boundary neglect; the governor committed to improvements and to considering fares and benefit measures.

Resident questions and dispute issues

Residents raised questions about:

Practical timelines and administrative service stability
How incentives will reach district offices
Location of the integrated city’s administrative headquarters
Protection for areas that lost provincial offices historically
Concrete job impacts from public institution relocations

Responses from the governor and officials:

Pledges to protect district functions and explore direct transfers to gu/district levels
Use of the 20 trillion KRW funding to support culture, industry and district needs
Public consultations to be run on controversial site and office relocation decisions

Atmosphere and next steps

The meeting combined presentation and public Q&A. Many civic leaders urged careful public discussion about the headquarters location and protections for local economies.
Residents were encouraged to submit additional opinions via the Dong‑gu website and the city council.

Presenters and contributors

Park Jin‑wook — Head of Resident Autonomy Team (host)
Kim Young‑rok — Governor, Jeollanam‑do
Im / Lim Dong‑gu — Mayor of Dong‑gu
Moon So‑hwa — Chair, Gwangju Dong‑gu Council
Kim Yeon‑suk — Dong‑gu Council member
Park Yong‑gyun — Dong‑gu Council member
Park Hyeon‑jeong — Dong‑gu Council member
Moon Byeong‑ryul — Elderly Chairman
Kim Seung‑do — Resident Autonomy Chairman
Park Eun‑young — Women’s Organization Chair
Lee Yang‑seop — Tongjang Group Chair
Lim / Im Taek — Director (local official referenced)
Gu Chun‑kwon — Head, Gwangyang Bay Free Economic Zone Authority; former Hwasun County governor
Kang Ki‑jung — Gwangju mayor (referenced)
Jang Seong‑guk — Chairman, Jisan Idong Seomaeul Council (questioner)
Jang Min‑ju — Honorary President, Korean Free Youth Association (questioner)
Cho Jang‑geun — Chairman (referenced)
Kim Dae‑young — Chairman (referenced; questioner)
Yu Kyung‑hyun — Head, Hakdong branch (questioner)
Choi Jeong‑sim — Dongmyeong‑dong branch (questioner)
Choi Jae‑ho — President, market merchants’ association (questioner)