다시 불붙는 무안반도 통합론.. 이번엔 다를까? (뉴스투데이 2026.6.3 광주MBC)

(Anchor) In the upcoming Mokpo mayoral election, the issue of expanding the Southwest region, including the integration of the Muan Peninsula, has once again emerged as a key campaign pledge. While major candidates are treating this issue with such importance that they have included it in their top five pledges, there are still many conditions that must be overcome before it can be realized. Reporter Moon Yeon-cheol reports. (Reporter) The integration of the Muan Peninsula is a long-standing topic in the Mokpo region that has been repeated in every election. With its population falling below 200,000 for the first time in over 40 years, securing urban scale and growth engines has become an urgent task for Mokpo City. Neighboring local governments, such as Muan and Sinan, also face the shared challenge of responding to population decline and the crisis of regional extinction. For this reason, the integration of the Muan Peninsula and the expansion of the Southwest region are once again being highlighted as major campaign pledges in this local election. Democratic Party of Korea candidate Kang Seong-hwi and Cho Kuk Innovation Party candidate Park Hong-ryul have included the issue of integration in their five major campaign pledges. Candidate Kang proposed a phased plan aimed at constructing a hub city with a population of 500,000 in the southwestern region, progressing from the integration of living areas and functions to administrative integration. He also included institutional consultative structures in his pledges, such as the regularization of the Metropolitan Administrative Council and the operation of joint subcommittees by city and county councils. Candidate Park proposed the establishment of a special autonomous entity for metropolitan affairs in the southwestern region as the first step. Subsequently, his plan envisions promoting the administrative integration of Mokpo, Muan, Sinan, Yeongam, and Haenam, and building a foundation for integration by consolidating common affairs such as transportation, tourism, and the environment. While both candidates presented the necessity and implementation plans in relatively concrete detail, feasibility cannot be guaranteed solely by Mokpo's will. Consent from residents of neighboring cities and counties, such as Muan and Sinan, as well as the formation of a consensus regarding the location of government buildings, financial allocation, and changes to public services, must be prerequisites. Ultimately, while the integration pledge in this election demonstrates Mokpo's future strategy, its feasibility is expected to be determined by whether an actual consultation structure can be established after the election. This is Moon Yeon-cheol from MBC News. #MuanPeninsula #Integration #LocalElection