Issue Aligning the second relocation with a chain of regional administrative mergers

Summary

Regional administrative integration is spreading, starting with the Jeonnam-Gwangju special city and followed by moves toward Chungnam-Daejeon and Daegu-Gyeongbuk mergers. If these proceed in a chain, the criteria for regional specialisation strategies and sites for the second relocation could change fundamentally. The report therefore calls for a pan-government coordination council that reviews merger progress when drawing up the relocation plan and checks the fit between relocated agencies and regional specialisation, while clarifying who executes the plan and who is accountable. Within the new special city, development gaps and budget conflicts between urban Gwangju and the 22 rural cities and counties of Jeonnam could arise, and the separation of Jeonbuk as a special self-governing province may weaken the wider Honam alliance. As one option, agencies could be tied to the city's three office hubs, with administrative functions around Gwangju, energy and maritime functions along the Naju and Mokpo axis and eastern ecology and tourism functions around Suncheon.