S. Gyeongsang governor calls cities, counties 'partners in leap forward'

South Gyeongsang Province and its 18 cities and counties gathered for the first time since the launch of the 9th elected term to build a cooperative framework for resolving regional issues and driving the province's renewed growth.

The province held the first mayoral and county chief policy meeting of the 9th elected term Wednesday afternoon at the main conference hall of the provincial government building in Changwon, chaired by Gov. Park Wan-su. Mayors, county chiefs and heads of provincial departments attended to share the administration's direction for the new term and discuss plans to streamline cash support programs and prepare for summer natural disasters.

A key agenda item was how to narrow gaps in cash support programs across cities and counties. Concerns have been raised that some cities and counties have been competitively expanding various subsidies, creating uneven benefit levels depending on where residents live and potentially deepening feelings of relative deprivation while straining local finances.

The province and municipalities agreed to preserve local autonomy for programs such as birth incentive grants, which must account for the specific conditions of population-declining areas. However, they agreed to gradually reduce regional disparities in programs of a similar nature and target group, such as veterans' allowances.

The province and cities and counties will also strengthen joint efforts to ensure that large corporate investment translates into actual economic activity. South Gyeongsang Province will launch a dedicated investment TF to provide swift support for large-scale investment projects. The TF will identify and resolve corporate difficulties and streamline administrative procedures such as permits and approvals.

Officials also reviewed the disaster response coordination framework ahead of the monsoon season and typhoons. The province urged cities and counties to promptly complete repairs in disaster-prone areas where recovery work remains unfinished, and to strengthen advance inspections of areas at risk — including landslide-prone zones, steep slopes and rivers.

Participants also discussed joint strategies to have long-sought regional projects incorporated into national plans and government programs. Key proposals included Changwon's request to include the Dong Daegu–Changwon high-speed railway and the metropolitan express rail CTX-Jinhae Line in the fifth national railway network development plan, Jinju's bid for designation as a specialized complex for space and aerospace materials, parts and equipment, and Geoje's call for support in building the Geoje–Tongyeong expressway.

"South Gyeongsang Province and its cities and counties are partners who share the same fate," Park said. "The province and municipalities must work as one team to deliver tangible results that residents can feel." He added that the province would actively seek administrative and fiscal support measures to help resolve the local issues raised by cities and counties as quickly as possible.