On Jan. 16 Prime Minister Kim Min-seok announced a plan to merge Daejeon with South Chungcheong Province and Gwangju with South Jeolla Province. The government would provide up to 40 trillion won ($27.3 billion) in financial incentives over the next four years to these newly formed β€œintegrated special cities.” The cities would be given greater administrative autonomy and priority in the relocation of public institutions in the hope of revitalizing local economies.

The plan is a key part of President Lee Jae Myung’s balanced national development strategy and aligns with his broader β€œ5 Regions + 3 Special Zones” national development framework aimed at stimulating growth in regional hubs through corporate subsidies, tax breaks and streamlined regulations.

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