![Jeollanam-do held a meeting on March 10 to review preparations for the launch of the Jeonnam–Gwangju Integrated Special City, UNFCCC Climate Week and Korea Green Transformation (K-GX) International Week, and the Yeosu World Islands Expo. Officials also discussed response plans. [Photo=Jeollanam-do]](https://contents-cdn.viewus.co.kr/image/2026/03/CP-2023-0070/image-837377fb-113a-48a2-9401-486ecab25dae.jpeg)
Jeollanam-do held a meeting on March 10 to review preparations for the launch of the Jeonnam–Gwangju Integrated Special City, UNFCCC Climate Week and Korea Green Transformation (K-GX) International Week, and the Yeosu World Islands Expo, and to discuss response plans.
Jeollanam-do views UNFCCC Climate Week and the Green Transformation (K-GX) International Week, set for April in Yeosu, as key opportunities to showcase its climate-response capabilities ahead of the Jeonnam–Gwangju Integrated Special City launch. Officials said they will prepare thoroughly.
Acting Governor Hwang Gi-yeon presided over the meeting. Officials closely reviewed preparations for the Yeosu World Islands Expo—the first international event since the Jeonnam–Gwangju integration—and noted that the expo will publicly showcase the new city’s stature and image. They also urged stronger coordination with the Gwangju Biennale, which opens around the same time, to maximize the two events’ combined impact.
Jeollanam-do will begin full-scale administrative integration to prepare for the new city. Each department will finalize detailed execution plans for integration projects by mid-March and implement them through the end of May. A June pilot run will ensure citizen services and administrative and financial systems operate smoothly when the integrated special city launches.
Officials also called for proactive steps to secure national funding so the province’s priority projects are included in the government budget. They urged teams to strengthen the case for projects tied to the Jeonnam–Gwangju integration and to proactively advocate them to central ministries.
Hwang Gi-yeon emphasized that “since Governor Kim Young-rok registered as a preliminary candidate for the 9th nationwide local elections on March 9, the governor’s duties have been suspended and the administration is operating under an acting governor. This is a critical period for preparing the Jeonnam–Gwangju Integrated Special City, so we must prevent any administrative gaps.”
He also asked all staff to strictly follow the restrictions of the Public Official Election Act during the local and by-elections, to maintain political neutrality, and to manage duties carefully so elections proceed fairly and transparently.
In response to the recent Middle East crisis and the resulting spike in international oil prices, Jeollanam-do launched an Emergency Economic Measures Task Force on March 9 to minimize impacts on industry and daily life. It will hold an emergency economic review meeting on the afternoon of March 10 to assess sector-by-sector response efforts.
