Governor Wi Seong-gon Seeks Jeju Honorary Citizens’ Support for Bids to Host the G20 and the Korea Racing Authority

【Financial News, Jeju = Reporter Jeong Yong-bok】 Wi Seong-gon, governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, asked Jeju’s honorary citizens active in various fields across the country to support efforts to bring the 2028 Group of Twenty (G20) Summit and the Korea Racing Authority to Jeju.
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province said on the 10th that Governor Wi, at the 12th Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Honorary Citizens’ Friendship Day event held on the 9th at Maison Glad Jeju in Jeju City, urged honorary citizens to widely promote Jeju’s strengths and the need to host the events.
Governor Wi said, “I hope you will promote Jeju’s strengths wherever you are so that the Korea Racing Authority can be brought to Jeju as part of the second relocation of public institutions, and the 2028 Group of Twenty (G20) Summit can be held in Jeju.”
South Korea has been selected to chair the 2028 G20 Summit, but the domestic host city has yet to be decided. Jeju, Incheon, Busan, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City are among those competing to host it. Regional efforts to secure the event are continuing, with Incheon launching a public-private joint bid committee on the 9th, the day of the event.
Jeju Province cites its experience hosting international conferences, accommodation facilities, foundation for international exchanges, and experience demonstrating carbon neutrality and renewable energy, among other factors, as strengths in the competition to host the summit.

The bid to bring the Korea Racing Authority to Jeju is a pending issue tied to the government’s second relocation of public institutions to regional areas. Jeju Province has emphasized that its foundation for horse breeding and development can be linked to the Korea Racing Authority’s research and industry-support functions. Other institutions Jeju Province is seeking to bring to the island include Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) and the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning.
Jeju Province’s request for cooperation from honorary citizens reflects the networks they have built through their work in a range of fields, including law, academia, politics and business. Honorary citizens have taken part in efforts to improve Jeju-related systems, served on various committees and advised on current issues facing the provincial administration.
About 260 people attended the event, held under the theme “Autumn Colors of Jeju, Dyed with Friendship,” including Governor Wi, Song Young-houn, chair of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Council, 119 honorary citizens and their accompanying family members, provincial council members and senior provincial officials. Events supporting Jeju’s bid to host the G20 Summit were also held, along with performances by the Jeju Children’s Choir and a fusion Korean traditional music ensemble.
Jeju Province has selected honorary citizens since 1971 and, over the 55 years through this year, has appointed 2,792 domestic and international figures as honorary citizens.
Governor Wi expressed his gratitude for honorary citizens’ contributions to Jeju’s development, saying, “I will work to ensure that your affection for Jeju becomes a source of pride for you as honorary citizens.”


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