Seven cities and counties in eastern Jeonnam-Gwangju set out to achieve balanced development through win-win cooperation

【Financial News, South Jeolla Province = Hwang Tae-jong, staff reporter】Seven cities and counties in the eastern region of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City (Gwangju Metropolitan City)—including Gwangyang-si, Suncheon City, Yeosu, Gokseong County, Gurye County, Goheung County and Boseong County—are setting out to achieve balanced development through win-win cooperation.
 The seven cities and counties in the eastern region said on the 29th that they held the inaugural meeting of the Eastern Region Win-Win Cooperation Council that day at the Yeosu World Island Expo venue.
 The Eastern Region Win-Win Cooperation Council is a collaborative body formed after the seven cities and counties—Gwangyang-si, Suncheon City, Yeosu, Gokseong County, Gurye County, Goheung County and Boseong County—came together following a proposal from Suncheon City in June. It aims to jointly respond to changes in the administrative environment following the launch of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City (Gwangju Metropolitan City) and achieve balanced development in the eastern region.
 At the inaugural meeting, the council designated Goheung County (County Governor Gong Yeong-min) as its inaugural chair municipality and reviewed and approved 10 agenda items for the eastern region’s shared development in areas including tourism, industry, transportation and the local economy.
 The main agenda items include △mutual discounts on admission to tourist facilities △joint promotion of signature city and county festivals △extending the runway at Yeosu Airport and upgrading it to international airport status △administrative and financial support for the 2027 World Taekwondo Hanmadang △compensation for cuts to the ordinary local allocation tax in 2023–2024.
 The seven cities and counties agreed to first promote tourism exchanges by expanding discounts at tourist facilities and jointly promoting their signature festivals, and to work together to expand regional transportation infrastructure, including by securing international airport status for Yeosu Airport.
 In particular, Suncheon City plans to request administrative and financial support for the successful hosting of the World Taekwondo Hanmadang, scheduled for July 2027. The Eastern Region Win-Win Cooperation Council also agreed to pool efforts to ensure that the benefits of hosting the international event spread to tourism and the local economy throughout the eastern region.
 The seven cities and counties also agreed to jointly request compensation for cuts to the ordinary local allocation tax, strengthening local fiscal stability and enabling local priority projects to proceed without disruption.
 Gwangyang-si Mayor Park Seong-hyeon said, "Close cooperation among cities and counties is needed to resolve shared issues in the eastern region and broaden opportunities for regional growth," adding, "We will connect the strengths of each area and identify cooperative initiatives that residents can experience firsthand, pooling our efforts so that the eastern region and the Integrated Special City can develop together."
 Suncheon City Mayor Son Hun-mo said, "The launch of the Eastern Region Win-Win Cooperation Council is a meaningful starting point for joining forces to advance the development of the eastern region as a whole, beyond the boundaries of individual cities and counties." He added, "In step with the launch of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, the seven cities and counties will speak with one voice and work to ensure that the results of cooperation bring tangible changes to residents’ lives."

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