Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun: "In the 9th Popular Election Term, Let's Focus on Securing Legal Status and Financial Privileges for Special Cities"
Mayors from five special cities across the nation gathered in Suwon to form new leadership for the Special Cities Mayors Council in the 9th popular election term and discuss common agenda items.
By placing joint research projects and additional legislative proposals on the agenda and electing a new chair, the intention is to restructure the framework for cooperation over the new four-year term.
According to Suwon City on the 13th, the Korea Special Cities Mayors Council held its first regular meeting of 2026 at the Suwon Convention Center on that day.
The meeting was attended by Suwon Special City Mayor Lee Jae-jun, Yongin Special City Mayor Lee Sang-il, Hwaseong Special City Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun, Changwon Special City Mayor Kang Ki-yoon, and Goyang Special City First Vice Mayor Park Won-seok.
The meeting proceeded with reports on special city implementation status followed by review and discussion of agenda items. Attendees discussed "promoting joint research projects related to support policies for special cities" and "additional legislative proposals related to special cities." Additional legislative proposals will be pursued with the National Assembly and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
The council elected Changwon Special City Mayor Kang Ki-yoon as the new chair on that day.
Suwon Special City Mayor Lee Jae-jun stated, "Over the past four years, five special cities have worked to secure special city authority, and achieved results with the proclamation of the 'Special Act on Support for Special Cities' in June," and said, "In the 9th popular election term, let's focus more on securing legal status and financial privileges."
He further stated, "We have worked to make special cities establish themselves as a new axis for regional balanced development by creating urban-rural coexistence models," and emphasized, "We must continue efforts for regional balanced development."