Will the ``megacity concept'', which is attracting increasing interest in South Korea, ever come true? Criticized as a “political show”

South Korea's ruling party, People's Power, has announced that it will submit a special bill to the National Assembly to incorporate Gyeonggi-do (Gyeonggi Province) and Gimpo (Gimpo) cities, which are adjacent to Seoul City, into Seoul City, and interest is high.
waiting. The plan is to eventually incorporate Gimpo City, Hanam City, Guri City, and Gwangmyeong City into Seoul, creating a ``megacity Seoul.'' citizen
Expectations have been raised from the perspective of expanding public facilities. On the other hand, while taking into consideration the balanced development of the country, there is still no clear plan for how to develop Seoul in the future.
The promotion has been criticized as being hasty. It has also been pointed out that if Gimpo were incorporated into Seoul, it would become an area adjacent to the Military Demarcation Line that borders North Korea, which could cause confusion in the capital's defense plans.
It's out. Additionally, the main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, strongly criticizes the party as an irresponsible popularity gambit aimed at increasing support ahead of next year's general election.
Gimpo City is located northwest of Seoul City and has a population of approximately 400,000. Northwest along the west bank of the Hangang River
The city has a long and narrow city area of 30 km to the southeast. It borders Incheon Metropolitan City to the south, Ganghwa Island (Ganghwa-gun, Incheon Metropolitan City) to the west via two bridges, and the northernmost part borders the Military Demarcation Line. Also, Japan
Gimpo Airport, which also serves short-haul international flights to China, Taiwan, and other destinations, was once located in Gimpo County (now Gimpo City), but the area where the airport is located was incorporated into Seoul in 1963. However, the name of the airport is
The current name remains as ``Gimpo.'' On the other hand, the capital, Seoul, is a large city with a population of 10 million people and consists of 25 districts. A conference was held in Gimpo City on the 30th of last month to discuss traffic measures in the metropolitan area.
At the meeting, Kim Ki-hyun, representative of People's Power, expressed the idea of moving forward with the idea of incorporating Gimpo City into Seoul City as a priority policy for the party. On the same day, Representative Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly and said, ``The city surrounding Seoul
Respecting the will of the residents and aligning the living area with the administrative area is the way for the people,'' and ``Based on that principle, it is the right thing to do with the utmost respect for the will of the residents.'' Stated. The party is
The government plans to submit a special bill to the National Assembly soon to incorporate Gimpo City into Seoul City. South Korean public broadcaster KBS reported, ``If the merger goes through, Seoul will expand for the first time in 60 years.''
Seoul Mayor Oh Sehun and Gimpo City Mayor Kim Byung-soo met on the 6th. According to Korean media, Mayor Kim told Mayor Oh that Gimpo City was incorporated into Seoul.
He emphasized that if this happens, growth and synergy effects can be expected. Mayor Oh said, ``The most important thing is the 'citizens' opinions,''' pointing out the need to move forward with discussions based on the consent of both citizens.
As soon as the transfer proposal was announced, there were a variety of reactions. Korean media outlet Money Today said, ``When we asked citizens, most of them expressed their expectations for the expansion of public transportation facilities.
It seems like they are taking it positively.'' He introduced the voices of citizens who are looking forward to the benefits of incorporation, such as, ``If it is incorporated, the infrastructure will greatly develop and it will be convenient to arrive to work.''
Meanwhile, Kim Dong-young, the governor of Gyeonggi Province, where Gimpo City is located, criticized the move at a press conference on the 6th, calling it ``a deception against the people and a political show for the election.'' South Korea will hold a general election next year.
I'm refraining. Governor Kim said, ``Regardless of whether you are conservative or progressive, the consistent direction of national development for the Republic of Korea over the past 30 years has been balanced development of the country, decentralization, and local autonomy.''
"It is pathetic that the fundamental value of preventing urban concentration and regional extinction is being undermined by the ruling party's strategy for the general election." In addition, Governor Kim said, ``The power of the people is the Seoul edition of Gimpo City.''
They claim that the city will create a ``megacity,'' but they claim that this is a sound fiscal system despite austerity, and that they will promote decentralization and local autonomy while calling for the creation of a ``Seoul Republic.''
It is a self-contradiction, and a self-contradiction." In addition, the Korean newspaper Dong-A Ilbo said about Seoul, ``There is a serious labor shortage due to excessive emphasis on the metropolitan area, soaring real estate prices, and a declining birthrate.''
A number of serious problems are occurring, including a decline in demand." ``The top priority is not to increase the area of Seoul within the metropolitan area, but to develop the regions and disperse the industry and population concentrated in the metropolitan area.
"." The Hankyoreh, a South Korean newspaper, said that with the annexation of Gimpo to Seoul, Seoul will become an area adjacent to the Military Demarcation Line, bordering North Korea.
"This could have a major impact on the military's operational plans." Meanwhile, the ruling party ``People's Power'' held the first meeting of a special committee aimed at realizing the megacity concept on the 7th, and held the first meeting of a special committee aimed at realizing the megacity concept, which will cover Seoul, the southern part of Busan, and South Korea.
It has proposed a ``super-wide-area megacity'' linking Gwangju in the west, Daejeon in the central region, and Daegu in the southeast. Expand the scope of “megacity” to major cities nationwide other than Seoul
The Dong-A Ilbo said, ``The ruling party's regional government leaders have criticized the megacities, which started with the incorporation issue of Seoul and neighboring border cities, as a ``political show.''
In response to this, it appears that they have expanded the scope to cover the whole country and have begun making revisions." The debate surrounding "megacities" has suddenly begun to heat up in South Korea. However, the direction is not clear.
I can't help but feel that the ideas I have in mind are gradually becoming grander and grander.