South Korea's ruling party launches a metropolitan area megacity plan... What will be the impact on the general election?

South Korea's ruling party ``People's Power'' announced that it will promote a policy to incorporate Gimpo City in Gyeonggi Province into Seoul City. The move appears to be aimed at attracting the attention of voters in the metropolitan area ahead of next year's general election.
Ru. However, the main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, objected, calling it a policy aimed at elections, and there is a strong view that it will be difficult to implement. According to South Korean political circles on the 31st, the power of the people and the cities of Seoul and Gimpo were announced at the end of last year.
When discussing the establishment of an autonomous province in northern Gyeonggi, they also exchanged opinions on the incorporation of Gimpo City into Seoul. The day before, Kim Ki-hyun, representative of People's Power, was driving the Gimpo Hangang train.
He attended the ``Metropolitan Area New Urban Transportation Measures Formulation Meeting'' held at the base, and stated, ``As a result of internal discussions, we came to the conclusion that it is desirable to incorporate Gimpo into Seoul,'' and ``We will promote this as a party theory.'' vinegar
The official opinion was that Starting next month, Gimpo City plans to gather residents' opinions through forums and opinion polls, while also starting specific discussions with Seoul City. "The power of the people"
Seoul Mayor Oh Sehun and Gimpo Mayor Kim Byung-soo are scheduled to meet next week to discuss the policy. If public opinion is positive as a result of collecting residents' opinions,
The government plans to decide whether to hold a referendum through consultation with the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, and is also preparing to propose a special law. The power of the people has expanded the possibility of incorporation into Seoul, not only in Gimpo but also in surrounding cities.
ing. Representative Kim added, ``As a general rule, we would like to move forward with the incorporation of neighboring cities that border Seoul and share commuting and other means of transportation directly with Seoul.''
This is the first time that the ruling party's leadership has revealed the megacity Seoul concept, and as a result, political circles are placing emphasis on interpreting it as a ``general election pledge.'' The ruling party is Mega City Sou.
The government is also considering Hanam City, Gwangmyeong City, and Guri City in Gyeonggi Province as potential candidates for inclusion in the region, and negotiations are reportedly underway with the presidential office. A ruling party official said, ``The plan to incorporate Seoul into a metropolitan area city
``This could be a killer policy in the Gyeonggi election,'' he said, adding, ``Public opinion in neighboring cities such as Gwangmyeong and Guri will become agitated.''
In particular, Gimpo City, which has become a department point, will see the strength of its people in next year's general election.
It is an area where A member of People's Power, whose constituency is in Gyeonggi Province, said, ``In last year's local elections, we (People's Power) won the mayor and city council chair positions in Gimpo, and we have high expectations for next year's general election.''
said. In fact, since last year, political circles have been focusing on regional issues such as the Gimpo Hangang Compact City, the extension of Seoul Subway Line 5, and the expansion of the Gimpo Gold Line, and it has emerged as a major battleground.
are doing. It is also known that some within the ruling party are proposing that party heavyweights such as Minister of Land and Land Minister Won Hee-ryong and Representative Kim Ki-hyun run for Gimpo City.
The main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, reacted to this move by calling it ``sudden.'' Response measures taking into consideration the ripple effect of the issue.
He seems to be adjusting his bell, refraining from making any rash remarks, and monitoring the trends in public opinion. At a press conference the day before, party spokesperson Kang Seon-woo said of Kim's remarks promoting party theory, ``It was an abrupt announcement.
We are carefully considering the area." There are also voices of opposition to the power of the people who brought up the topic for the general election first. A member of the Democratic Party leadership said, ``This was brought out of nowhere.
"I'm wondering whether it's worth having a debate about this," he said, adding, "This is nothing more than an act of selling votes in an attempt to sway the situation while admitting that they are at a disadvantage in the metropolitan area ahead of the election. It's irresponsible.
It will have major aftereffects," he said. The incorporation of neighboring cities such as Gimpo City into Seoul would require the enactment of a special law for the establishment of Gyeonggi-Northern Self-Governing Province, as well as the enactment of a separate special law.
Therefore, the breaking point is that it would not be possible without the consent of the main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan. On this day, Supreme Commissioner Ko Min Jeong said in a radio interview, ``(
It requires the consent of the Governor of Gyeonggi Province (both members of the Democratic Party), and the National Assembly also needs to enact the law. We must also hold a referendum,'' and added, ``Such a process
I don't think the government or the ruling party have made any preparations for this."