Two Seoul central districts to be merged

By Yi Whan-woo

The government plans to merge two of Seoul’s 25 districts, Jung-gu and Jongno-gu.

The Presidential Committee on Local Administration Reform said Wednesday that combining the two adjacent downtown districts is part of a nationwide plan for more efficient administration of 36 cities, counties and districts.

The committee was formed last year to carry out systematic reform of local administrations.

“Some, especially districts, do not necessarily have to exist independently as they are too small,” a committee official said. “Yet they require a large amount of financial support from the central government and that’s why we’re trying to reform the local administrations to enhance efficiency.”

The committee targeted Jung-gu and Jongno-gu for administrative reform as the size and population of the former is below the average of the 25 Seoul districts.

“The average population of a Seoul district as of January is 410,000, and its average size is 24 square kilometers,” the official said. “Jung-gu was under the average as its population is only 133,000 and it measures 10 square kilometers.”

Jung-gu is the smallest district in Seoul. It, however, is noted for its long history.

“Please keep in mind that this is only a plan and will require consent from the Ministry of Public Administration and Security as well as the Jung-gu administration,” the official said.

He added that the committee will submit the plan to President Lee Myung-bak and the National Assembly this month for review.

The 36 cities, counties, and districts include some major areas, such as four districts in Busan and three cities in Gyeonggi Province.