Lee Byung-hoon pushes 20-trillion-won merger plan for Jeollanam-do and Gwangju
Lee Byung-hoon, a candidate in the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special Mayor by-election, framed the launch of an integrated special city as a historic turning point that would redesign the region’s future. He stressed industrial innovation and balanced development as core elements of his vision.
The candidate spoke at a campaign debate held in a studio inside the CGI Center in Nam-gu, Gwangju, on the afternoon of the 13th. The event was organized by four media outlets: Asia Economy’s Honam bureau, DealSite Economy TV, Wikitr, and Herald Economy, with a format inviting successive candidates to present their policies and visions.
He said the idea of merging Jeollanam-do and Gwangju had been discussed for 31 years but repeatedly stalled due to various conditions and interests. He credited the renewed momentum to what he described as strong support from President Lee Jae-myeong and a national commitment to balanced regional development.
Describing the integration as more than a mere administrative change, he called it “a historic turning point to redesign our region’s future,” and said competing in the integrated special mayor election at this time carried personal significance and responsibility.
Lee cited his past experience as mayor of Gwangyang County, where he led the administrative merger of DongGwangyang City and Gwangyang County to form today’s Gwangyang City. He used that example to illustrate how administrative consolidation can spur regional development.
For the integrated city’s future, he proposed leveraging government funding of 20 trillion won to support industrial innovation and the growth of future-oriented industries. He added that the plan would not rely solely on this fund.
He argued that 20 trillion won would be insufficient on its own and endorsed an investment strategy that would use government financing as a foundation while also creating a Future Growth Fund and attracting private investment to mobilize broader resources.
Context for U.S. readers: The push to merge Jeollanam-do with Gwangju reflects South Korea’s broader policy emphasis on balanced regional development and coordinated investment across provinces. A successful integration could influence regional infrastructure planning, supply chains, and collaboration opportunities for foreign firms, including U.S. partners, by shaping the pace and focus of industrial innovation and funding in southwestern Korea. The outcome could also signal how Seoul-based national policies translate into local governance and economic stimulus across key industrial clusters.