Yun Ho-jung vows closer ties with local governments to build 'irreplaceable Korea'

Minister of Interior and Safety Yun Ho-jung said Friday that the government would work more closely with local governments, viewing them as "one team" in building an "irreplaceable Korea."

Yun made the remarks at the 5th Central-Local Policy Council held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju, expressing hope that locally elected governments entering their ninth term would "inject new vitality into regional economies and put residents' lives and safety first."

The meeting, attended by deputy heads of all 17 metropolitan and provincial governments and officials from relevant ministries, covered a range of policies closely tied to residents' daily lives — including preparations for the successful launch of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City on Wednesday, livelihood stabilization and local fiscal priorities, and summer disaster preparedness measures such as river and valley management.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety urged each metropolitan and provincial government to actively publicize information about civil service disruptions that will temporarily occur as a result of the integration, so residents are not inconvenienced.

Officials called on local governments to encourage residents to apply for high fuel-price victim support funds before the Thursday application deadline and to use the funds by the end of August. The ministry also specifically requested livelihood stabilization measures, including freezing local public utility rates and cracking down on price gouging at summer vacation destinations.

The ministry also asked local governments to cooperate in the smooth operation of a "local tax delinquency management corps" aimed at creating jobs and expanding self-generated revenue.

The meeting reviewed progress on a comprehensive reinvestigation of illegal structures along rivers and valleys underway since March. Officials asked that illegally operating commercial facilities be prioritized for removal by the end of this month, that investigations be completed, and that measures to prevent recurrence be put in place without gaps.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety outlined steps to prepare for the peak summer heat season — including safety management for vulnerable groups, operation of cooling centers, inspection of hazardous facilities ahead of the July monsoon season, and establishment of evacuation systems. It also shared key government initiatives requiring local cooperation, such as activating resident autonomy councils to advance grassroots democracy, developing and implementing carbon neutrality strategies at the local government level, and ensuring safety and health measures at construction sites contracted by local governments.