전남광주통합특별시 이렇게 달라진다 (뉴스데스크 2026.6.4 광주MBC)

(Anchor) The local elections to elect the first Mayor of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City and the Superintendent of Education have concluded smoothly. Now, on the 1st of next month, the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City will be launched, marking the first administrative integration between metropolitan local governments in constitutional history. Once the Integrated Special City sets sail, how will the region's status and economy change? Reporter Han Shin-gu has compiled the details. (Reporter) The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, launching on the 1st of next month, will become a super-metropolitan local government with a population of 3.2 million, occupying 12% of South Korea's land area. The Mayor of the Integrated Special City will hold a ministerial-level position, possessing a status equivalent to that of the Mayor of Seoul, along with powerful autonomous authority. You will be able to attend Cabinet meetings to represent key regional issues to the central government, and major development and administrative licensing authority currently held by government ministries will be transferred to the integrated special city. This establishes a basis for swiftly implementing region-tailored policies without having to worry about the central government's reaction. Preliminary feasibility studies for large-scale projects will be waived, and securing state funding will become easier than before. In particular, a green light has been given for fostering future strategic industries, such as the Gwangju AI Cluster and the creation of energy and semiconductor specialized complexes in Jeonnam, which previously struggled to achieve synergy effects due to divided administrative districts. Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok (Town Hall Meeting, February 4) "I believe Gwangju and Jeonnam must put their heads together to create a blueprint for the future, especially one that fosters industry." As an incentive for the integration, the province will also receive financial support from the government, including special grants worth 20 trillion won over four years. With the foundation for tax revenue self-sufficiency established, the region will see a significant increase in funds available for local spending, including the resolution of chronic fiscal deficits through special provisions for the transfer of national taxes to local taxes. Additional benefits, such as priority placement, will also be granted to the integrated special city during the second phase of the relocation of public institutions located in the Seoul metropolitan area. With education unified alongside administrative organizations, the era of educational autonomy—realizing "urban-rural integrated education"—is set to begin in earnest. However, challenges remain regarding where to locate the main government building following administrative integration, and how to wisely resolve latent regional conflicts, such as budget allocation based on the disparity between urban and rural areas. The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, promoted to overcome the Seoul-centric system and address the crisis of regional extinction, is embarking on a voyage that marks a new milestone, carrying both expectations and concerns. This is Han Shin-gu reporting for MBC News. #JeonnamGwangjuIntegratedSpecialCity #AdministrativeIntegration