SEOUL, - The ruling People Power Party (PPP) in South Korea has proposed a special bill to merge the satellite city of Gimpo into Seoul. The bill, aimed at integrating Gimpo into the nation's capital, was introduced on Thursday by Rep. Chung Kyoung-tae, the head of the PPP's special committee on the new city project, and supported by other party members including the party leader Kim Gi-hyeon.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the proposed legislation is scheduled for processing by the end of next year's parliamentary session. The bill, if passed, is slated to take effect from January 1, 2025, and includes a six-year grace period to manage various administrative changes. This proposal does not include other cities adjacent to Seoul.
The plan to include Gimpo in Seoul has been a prominent topic in South Korean politics recently. While the Gimpo municipal government supports the integration, critics argue that the PPP's proposal is an attempt to gain voter support ahead of the April general elections. The plan's momentum has increased recently, with the mayors of Seoul and Gimpo meeting last week to discuss the integration.
In a related move, the PPP also announced its intention to propose another bill aimed at expanding regional hub cities. This includes plans to develop the southeastern port city of Busan and the southwestern city of Gwangju into megacities by merging them with nearby regions. The first step in this initiative is to push for a merger between Busan and South Gyeongsang Province.