Administrative Integration Mocked as Preparation Funds Omitted from Budget

The planned administrative integration of the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions, a move heralded with promises of a new era of development, now faces a significant hurdle: a glaring omission in the supplementary budget. Civic groups are rightly decrying the government's failure to allocate funds for the crucial preparatory stages, branding the upcoming July integration as a 'mockery' and a 'laughingstock' for political opponents.

This oversight is not just a bureaucratic oversight; it's a betrayal of the trust placed by the citizens of Gwangju and Jeonnam, who have been encouraged by President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party to pursue this integration. The demand for 57.6 billion won in essential startup costs, now unaddressed, leaves the region in a precarious position. As highlighted by the stark message on a banner in Daejeon – 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Special City, preparation funds not in supplementary budget?! Daejeon almost suffered the same fate!' – this situation is being cynically exploited by political adversaries.

At Hankyoreh, we share the concerns of these civic groups. The current situation, where the region is being asked to finance integration through loans, is akin to being encouraged to marry without any financial support for the wedding. This lack of concrete financial backing raises serious questions about the government's commitment and the true intentions behind this administrative integration. We fear this could be the prelude to a hollow political slogan that ultimately accelerates regional decline rather than fostering growth. The Gwangju Mayor's plea for special grants underscores the urgency, but the underlying issue of governmental commitment remains.