A new administrative unit of 1.08 million people in South Gyeongsang Province that will unite the three major cities in the region ― Changwon, Masan and Jinhae ― was named Changwon, an organizing committee for the project said Thursday.
The committee said it made the decision in a general meeting Wednesday, adding that the administrative headquarters will also be located in Changwon. With the decision, it said that all the prerequisite steps for the administrative merger have been completed except for endorsement by the National Assembly.
The Assembly will decide whether to approve the plan by the end of the month.
Two other similar merger projects are underway in Gyeonggi and Chungcheong provinces.
Three satellite cities located close to Seoul ― Seongnam, Gwangju and Hanam ― are taking steps to be consolidated as a new single administrative unit with a population over one million.
The city of Chungju and Cheongwon County are also trying to boost their competitive edge by becoming one city.