PPP renews commitment to merging Seoul with adjacent cities ahead of elections

Rep. Yun Jae-ok, the floor leader of the ruling People Power Party, gives an address at the National Assembly in Seoul, Feb. 21. Yonhap

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) renewed its commitment Wednesday to administrative district reorganization aimed at including Gimpo and other adjacent cities in Seoul as it wooed voters in such cities ahead of April's general elections.

Rep. Yun Jae-ok made the remarks in a National Assembly address as the representative of a parliamentary negotiating bloc, vowing to incorporate adjacent cities into Seoul and divide Gyeonggi Province surrounding Seoul into North Gyeonggi and South Gyeonggi provinces.

"It is time to push for administrative district reorganization," Yun said during the address. "By reorganizing administrative jurisdictions, we should address the inconveniences of residents and improve their quality of life."

The PPP has been working on the idea of incorporating adjacent cities into Seoul since late October 2023. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea has denounced the push as a populist policy ahead of the parliamentary elections.

During the speech, Yun also pledged to speed up the construction project of the Great Train Express lines connecting Seoul with neighboring areas. He also vowed to give tax benefits to small and medium-sized companies moving their offices to state-designated business zones outside of Seoul. (Yonhap)