Incheon, South Korea – Incheon City announced on December 31st that it had reached a final agreement on the adjustment of administrative boundaries within the development zones bordering Michuhol-gu and Yeonsu-gu districts.
This boundary adjustment primarily focuses on the Yonghyeon-Hakik 1 Block in Michuhol-gu and the Songdo Station-centered Urban Development Project area in Yeonsu-gu. As a result of the agreement, approximately 45,592 square meters in Okryeon-dong, Yeonsu-gu, will be incorporated into Michuhol-gu, while approximately 37,763 square meters in Hakik-dong, Michuhol-gu, will be transferred to Yeonsu-gu.
Previously, in 2016, Michuhol-gu and Yeonsu-gu had agreed to exchange land in Hakik-dong and Okryeon-dong, but the plan fell through due to disagreements among residents regarding land compensation for development projects. With the completion of the Songdo Station-centered development project by Samsung C&T scheduled for next June, the city anticipated inconvenience to residents and inefficiencies in administrative management. To address these issues, Incheon City sought approval from the Incheon City Council in May and submitted a request for boundary adjustment to the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
Subsequently, the city formed a "Boundary Change Self-Governing Committee" composed of 20 members, including city councilors, district councilors, experts, and relevant public officials. Through this committee, the city conducted three rounds of consultations, including listening to opinions and conducting on-site inspections, to reach an agreement on the administrative boundary adjustment between the two districts.
This boundary adjustment is a case that utilizes the procedures for changing jurisdictional boundaries under the Local Autonomy Act, which was fully revised on January 13, 2022. This procedure includes a public discussion process involving local residents and experts to seek reasonable adjustment measures. This is the second successful case of boundary adjustment in Incheon City, following the "Sungui Stadium boundary adjustment" implemented on March 24, 2023.
The agreed-upon content will be reported to the Minister of the Interior and Safety, and the boundary adjustment will be finalized through the process of drafting a presidential decree and obtaining approval from the Cabinet meeting.
Jeong Seung-hwan, director of the City's Autonomous Administration Division, explained, "This boundary adjustment between Michuhol-gu and Yeonsu-gu is not simply an administrative boundary adjustment but a significant achievement that will improve the quality of life for residents and promote regional development."
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