On July 1, 2026, South Korea made history. Gwangju and South Jeolla Province officially merged into the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City – the first metropolitan-level integration in the country’s history.
The new city launches as a local government with a population of 3.2 million, a gross regional domestic product of at least 150 trillion won, and an annual budget of up to 40 trillion won. The special law grants the newly established city a status equivalent to Seoul Special City, with special provisions for national fiscal support and educational autonomy.
President Lee Jae-myung called the merger „a starting signal for locally led growth that will change the nation’s future, and a national survival strategy for South Korea.”
What Makes This Region Special
The new city brings together two powerful strengths: Jeonnam’s eco-friendly energy meets Gwangju’s AI industry, establishing itself as a central city in the national energy and AI transformation.
Some core powers previously held by the central government, including permitting authority for large-scale development projects and the right to designate free economic zones, will also be transferred to the integrated special city. The government has pledged financial support totalling 20 trillion won over four years to ensure the integration’s success.
What This Means for Jeollanam-do in Europe
For the Jeollanamdo Europe Office (now Jeonnam-Gwangju Europe Office), this is a milestone moment. It doesn’t only mean a change of name, it means progress. The region we represent – home to Korea’s finest food culture, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a thriving food export industry – is now part of one of South Korea’s most ambitious regional development projects in decades.
We look forward to representing this new, stronger region and bringing even more of Jeollanam-do’s finest products and culture to European markets.