Seoul mayor calls for research, consensus on proposed Gimpo integration

Social Affairs

Published: 06 Nov. 2023, 18:37 Updated: 06 Nov. 2023, 19:43

Seoul mayor calls for research, consensus on proposed Gimpo integration

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, left, and Gimpo Mayor Kim Byung-soo, shake hands ahead of their discussion on the plan to integrate Gimpo into the capital at Seoul City Hall in central Seoul on Monday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon stressed the need for thorough research and public consensus before integrating Gyeonggi’s Gimpo into the capital after he met with Gimpo Mayor Kim Byung-soo on Monday.

“It feels premature to share [whether the plan will benefit the capital] as the plan has not been deeply studied yet,” Seoul Mayor Oh told local reporters at Seoul City Hall in central Seoul after the meeting with the mayor of Gimpo.

According to Oh, the two mayors decided to form a joint research team to assess the effects of the annexation. He said the two city governments would hold later discussions based on the analysis.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will also establish a separate task force to examine the impact of potential mergers with other adjacent cities, such as Guri, Hanam, and Goyang of Gyeonggi.

“We will need at least a month or two to thoroughly analyze and assess how the proposal [ …] will affect the country's competitiveness as well as the greater Seoul area and the lives of Seoul residents.”

Monday’s meeting took place at the request of the Gimpo mayor.

Kim told the local press that he explained to Mayor Oh the necessity and appropriateness of integrating his city into Seoul if Gyeonggi becomes divided into two provinces during the meeting.

“We are pursuing the proposal as it will benefit Gimpo residents if Gyeonggi splits into north and south provinces,” the Gimpo mayor told local reporters, showing a map to explain how Gimpo is entirely separate from South Gyeonggi and divided by the Han River if it becomes part of North Gyeonggi.

Kim added that the Gyeonggi provincial government’s push to create the Northern Special Self-Governing Province has encouraged Gimpo to pursue such a plan.

Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Dong-yeon has been advocating for establishing a special self-governing province in northern Gyeonggi, encompassing 10 cities and counties.

The plan to incorporate Gimpo into Seoul was first announced by the conservative People Power Party (PPP) leader Kim Gi-hyeon during his visit to the city last week, in an apparent move aimed at boosting the party’s popularity ahead of next year’s general election.

Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok earlier in the day criticized his party for launching an “unrealistic political show,” further referring to the plan as a “populist strategy without proper research and public consensus.”

“Bringing the proposal into the spotlight without careful consideration and public discussion five months before the election is an irresponsible act that results in confusion among the public,” the Incheon mayor wrote in a statement on Monday.

Regarding the matter, Oh told the reporters that the proposal would likely become politicized because of its timing, adding that conducting research for a more extended period, possibly until after the general election next year, might yield a desirable plan.

Gimpo, located northwest of the capital, has a population of approximately 490,000 and covers 276.6 square kilometers (106.8 square miles). The total area of Seoul would increase by 45 percent if Gimpo were incorporated into the capital.

The city government of Gimpo said it would host conferences with the residents and conduct surveys on the idea of the city being part of the capital from Tuesday through Nov. 27.

“The most important factor of the process would be the public's opinion,” Oh said.

“Discussions should proceed based on the consensus and agreement of both Gimpo and Seoul residents.”

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]