Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun: "9th Popular Election Term Should Focus on Securing Legal Status and Financial Privileges for Special Cities"

Mayors of five special cities across the nation gathered in Suwon to form a new structure for the Council in the 9th Popular Election Term and discuss common issues.

By placing joint research projects and additional legislative proposals on the agenda and newly electing a chairman, they aim to restructure the framework for cooperation over the new four-year term.

According to Suwon City on the 13th, the Republic of Korea Special Cities Mayors Council held its first regular meeting of 2026 at the Suwon Convention Center on this day.

The meeting was attended by Suwon Special City Mayor Lee Jae-jun, Yongin Special City Mayor Lee Sang-il, Hwaseong Special City Mayor Jung Myung-geun, Changwon Special City Mayor Kang Ki-yun, and First Vice Mayor of Goyang Special City Park Won-seok.

The meeting proceeded with reports on special cities implementation status and deliberation and discussion of agenda items. Participants discussed "promotion of joint research projects related to special cities support policies" 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-yun as the new chairman on this day.

Suwon Special City Mayor Lee Jae-jun said, "Over the past four years, the five special cities made efforts to secure special city authority, and achieved the result of having the 'Special Act on Support for Special Cities' promulgated in June last year," and "In the 9th Popular Election Term, let us focus more on securing legal status and financial privileges."

He continued, "We have made efforts to establish special cities as a new axis for regional balanced development by creating an urban-rural coexistence model," and emphasized "We must continue efforts for regional balanced development."