6 Regions Dubbed Independent Integration Areas

Six regions of the country yesterday were designated independent integration areas by the government.

The six include three in Gyeonggi Province: Suwon, Hwaseong and Osan; Seongnam, Hanam and Gwangju; and Anyang, Gunpo and Euiwang. Two others are in South Gyeongsang Province -- Changwon, Masan and Jinhae and Jinju and Sancheong -- and the remaining one is in North Chungcheong Province -- Cheongju and Cheongwon.

Public Administration and Security Minister Lee Dal-gon said in a briefing at the Central Government Complex, “We surveyed the independent integration of 18 regions including 46 provincial governments nationwide. Since we found that more than half of the residents from 16 cities and counties in the six regions approved the idea, we officially implemented the integration process.”

“Massive administrative and financial support for integrated cities will follow.”

Accordingly, the ministry will submit a bill on building regional integrated cities by the end of the year if 16 councils in cities and counties in the six regions approve of the integration.

Once the councils approve, an organization for consultation and support overarching all government agencies will be set up in the Office of the Prime Minister to lay the foundation for long-term development of integrated self-governing bodies and come up with support measures for each agency.

To set a good example for an integrated self-governing body, the central government is expected to transfer a significant part of administrative power and give financial support to integrated cities with a population exceeding a million. The cities will have expanded authority for personnel and organization management, add a deputy mayor, and promote directors at certain agencies.

When the bill on building integrated cities passes the National Assembly in February next year, an election for the heads of integrated cities will follow June 3. The cities will officially be launched July 1.

argus@donga.com