(Jeonnam Gwangju = Yonhap News) Reporter Park Cheol-hong = The Democratic Party of Korea has begun to mediate conflicts between the executive branch and the city council, such as proposing the formation of a three-party consultative body involving Jeonnam Gwangju Unified Special City and the city council.
Ahn Do-geol, the first chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea's Jeonnam Gwangju Unified City Party Committee, visited the Jeonnam Gwangju Unified City Council on the 19th and discussed establishing a regular consultative body to mediate conflicts between the executive branch and the assembly and jointly respond to major issues.
On this day, Chairman Ahn held a meeting with the chairman, including Chairman Song Hyeong-gon, to discuss ways to regularly operate a tripartite policy consultation channel involving the Special City Party, the Special City, and the Special City Council.
The purpose is to hold a consultative body every quarter or every 2-3 months to discuss current issues whenever necessary, and to create a structure that connects the Central Party, National Assembly, and government through the Special City Party for issues that are difficult to resolve in the region.
In particular, regarding the recent conflict between the executive branch and the National Assembly over organizational reorganization and the appointment of the Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs, they agreed that the lack of prior communication and formal consultation, rather than the policy itself, increased the conflict.
There was an opinion that there was a need to go beyond communication between the mayor and the individual chairperson and operate a formal consultation system involving the chairpersons and standing committee chairs, and the Special City Party should also take on a role of mediation and mediation between the two sides.
Chairman Ahn said, "The current conflict and confusion surrounding the special city should not lead to a situation where the central government and the central party have a negative perception of the integrated special city," and emphasized cooperation between the executive branch and the city council, following party leader Kim Min-seok's request for cooperation the previous day.
Chairman Song responded, “To resolve the pending issue, I will communicate directly with Mayor Min Hyeong-bae and find a breakthrough.”
In addition, at the meeting on this day, Chairman Ahn and the National Assembly agreed that government support is essential for the creation of national industrial complexes, power and water, transportation networks, and talent training in relation to large-scale investments such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI), and that the Special City Party should serve as a link between the central government and the National Assembly.
In addition, an opinion was presented that the government should secure the maximum amount of actual support for the financial support of up to 20 trillion won during the integration process and increase autonomy in financial resource management so that the special city can utilize it in accordance with local circumstances.
They also agreed that after integration, concerns over the distribution of financial resources and authority between former Gwangju and Jeonnam should be resolved and balanced development should be promoted so that the 27 cities, counties, and districts can develop by taking advantage of their respective industries and characteristics.
It was suggested that the secondary relocation of public institutions should also be linked to regional industrial characteristics such as agriculture and energy, rather than a lump-sum arrangement centered on existing innovation cities, to attract related companies, invest, and create jobs.
Previously, Chairman Ahn met with local university presidents and discussed the role of universities after administrative integration, industry-academia cooperation, and plans for training and research and development of professional manpower needed for investment in Honam semiconductors.
In the future, we will also hold or plan to hold a meeting with Mayor Min Hyeong-bae and Superintendent Kim Dae-jung to discuss joint response measures to major issues such as operating a regular party-government consultative body, investing in Honam semiconductors, and establishing a new national medical school.
Chairman Ahn emphasized, “We will serve as a ‘people’s livelihood platform’ that closely connects the city and the National Assembly, the central government and the National Assembly to create results that citizens can feel.”
