Jung Da-hyun is a reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues in Korea, including foreign residents, education, environment and politics. Driven by a deep interest in people’s stories, she focuses on investigative and feature reporting through direct interviews and field coverage. She received the Amnesty International Korea Media Award for her “Deepfake Crisis at Schools” series. Reach her at dahyun08@koreatimes.co.kr. Always open to hearing your stories.
Experts urge caution concerning hastily proposed Seoul-Gimpo megacity plan
A view of Gimpo and the mouth of the Han River is seen from Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Nov. 7. Yonhap
By Jung Da-hyun
Reorganization of administrative divisions should be discussed in final stages
As discussions continue regarding the incorporation of Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, into Seoul, experts caution that the talks on reorganizing administrative divisions are coming too hastily.
The megacity plan was disclosed by ruling People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon during a press conference addressing transportation system measures for new developments surrounding Seoul in Gyeonggi Province and Incheon.
In addition, a Nov. 6 meeting between Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Gimpo Mayor Kim Byung-soo added fuel to the proposal.
However, experts unanimously stressed the need for clear justification for the reorganization of administrative divisions.
Jang Jae-min, representative director of the Korea Institute for Urban Policy
“There isn’t any clear reason why Gimpo should be included in Seoul,” said Jang Jae-min, representative director of the Korea Institute for Urban Policy.
There are potential benefits for both Gimpo and Seoul following incorporation, but the underlying purpose of the plan remains ambiguous, he said. Questions remain as to whether it is being proposed to expedite city infrastructure development, boost housing prices or enhance the convenience of the transportation system.
To move forward with the plan, Jang insisted that the rationale behind selecting Gimpo from among the 28 cities and three counties in Gyeonggi Province should be more transparent.
Choi Eun-young, the executive director of the Korea Center for City and Environment Research, underscored the importance of proper justification in advancing megacity policies. She highlighted the considerable time and risks associated with reorganizing administrative districts, which necessitates clear reasons to persuade stakeholders.
“Consider the megacity proposal of Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province as an example. They demonstrated a clear intention for the balanced development of regions,” she said.
Choi Eun-young, executive director of the Korea Center for City and Environment Research
Citing the example of Gunwi being incorporated into Daegu after a three-year process, Choi also highlighted that the reorganization of administrative districts needs time.
Gunwi was part of North Gyeongsang Province, but was incorporated into Daegu in July this year. The discussion of incorporation began in 2020, as part of the process of attracting Daegu International Airport, which is set to open in 2030.
The PPP argues that the plan aims to benefit Gimpo residents as it will increase convenience. According to Rep. Kim, Seoul serves as the main sphere of influence for Gimpo residents, with approximately 60,000 commuting to the capital each day.
This number of commuters accounts for 12.7 percent of the total population of Gimpo, which is about 474,000.
Kim Jin-yoo, a professor in the Department of Urban Planning and Transportation Engineering at Kyonggi University, pointed out that cities like Hanam, Gwangmyeong and Guri, which also border Seoul, boast higher numbers of commuters. According to the professor, the proposed justifications are insufficient to convincingly support the incorporation of Gimpo into Seoul.
"If the objective is commuter convenience, the focus should be on addressing transportation system solutions first, rather than jumping into the reorganization of administrative districts," he said.
Kim Jin-yoo, a professor in the Department of Urban Planning and Transportation Engineering at Kyonggi University
Other experts also agreed that discussions should focus on transportation system solutions rather than administrative district reorganization.
Jang emphasized the necessity of developing transportation capable of accommodating large numbers of people, such as extending Seoul Metro Line 5 or creating the Great Train eXpress (GTX) D to connect Gimpo to Seoul.
Choi argued that the current discussion primarily views the issue as an administrative division matter, while the urgency of transportation issues should be addressed at the working level.
Before initiating the megacity plan, gathering diverse opinions also poses a significant challenge, given the varying interests of residents.
Kim suggests that only a small fraction of individuals residing near a new section of Gimpo, in close proximity to Seoul, may support the megacity concept. This raises the prospects of potential disagreements surrounding the proposed plan.
Residents in distant areas of Gimpo may not find the proposed evaluation plan significantly beneficial. This is because even if Line 5 is extended, it won't reach their location. Furthermore, if Gimpo is incorporated into Seoul, it could still be considered a potential site for undesirable facilities such as landfills.
Adding to these concerns, some individuals strategically relocated to Gimpo to capitalize on local advantages, such as special admission benefits at universities for farming and fishing villages. However, they might be at risk of losing these perks.
People pass by an empty house in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, April 6, 2022. Yonhap
Above all, the experts expressed common concerns that incorporating Gimpo into Seoul could exacerbate the gap between regional areas and the capital. They believe that this megacity plan runs counter to the goal of addressing centralization issues in the metropolitan area, especially Seoul.
Seoul's administrative boundaries have remained unchanged since 1963. This fixity triggered a spillover effect, contributing to the development of Gyeonggi Province to its current state, marked by escalating housing prices and a growing population, encompassing areas like Seongnam and Gwacheon.
However, the experts worry that expanding Seoul's administrative boundaries may lead to other districts in Gyeonggi Province being incorporated, potentially worsening regional disparities between the capital and other regions.
They also analyzed that it is time to explore methods of redistributing the metropolitan transportation network and industrial functions, currently concentrated in Seoul, more evenly across various regions.
Meanwhile, discussions about expanding the capital have also expanded to other satellite cities neighboring Seoul. Guri Mayor Back Kyung-hyun discussed the megacity plan with the Seoul mayor, Monday. The two mayors agreed to launch a task force to conduct a comprehensive study on the inclusion of Guri into the capital, similar to the discussions with Gimpo.