Gyeonggi Province Mayors and Governors Association Holds 9th Regular Meeting of Seventh Civilian Government Term

[Suwon Ilbo=Correspondent Seo Dong-young] The Gyeonggi Province Mayors and Governors Association (Chairman Kwak Sang-wook, Mayor of Osan City) held its 9th regular meeting of the seventh civilian government term on the 9th.

At the video conference held with the attendance of heads of 30 municipalities and counties, including Osan City, the meeting presented 5 reporting matters and 29 deliberation agenda items (2 proposed by the association, 13 suggested by Gyeonggi Province, 14 suggested by the central government), and all were passed as originally proposed.

The association also appointed new officers to lead the second half of the seventh civilian government term: Vice Chairpersons Han Dae-hee, Mayor of Gunpo City, Jung Ha-young, Mayor of Gimpo City, and Kim Sung-gi, Governor of Gapyeong County; Auditor Eom Tae-jun, Mayor of Icheon City; Executive Director Yi Hang-jin, Mayor of Yeoju City; and Spokesperson Ahn Seung-nam, Mayor of Guri City.

The association also judged that unilateral policy implementation by Seoul City without prior consultation procedures is causing damage to adjacent cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province, and that there are concerns about potential damage to Gyeonggi Province municipalities and counties among the pledges of preliminary candidates in the Seoul mayoral by-election. The association agreed to jointly respond at the association level with Gyeonggi Province.

Association Chairman Kwak Sang-wook said in his opening remarks, "Solidarity and cooperation among cities and counties are urgently needed to enhance the status of the association," and added, "The Gyeonggi Province Mayors and Governors Association in the second half of the seventh civilian government term will contribute to the development of local autonomy through promoting exchanges and cooperation among cities and counties and deliberating common issues." He further stated, "We hope for the active participation of mayors and governors in the Mayors and Governors Academy, which will be held once a month from this month over 10 sessions," and expressed, "We hope the Mayors and Governors Academy will serve as a venue where we can together consider and discuss regional issues and practical problems of the regions."