Gov. Park Wan-su, Mayor Min Hyeong-bae sign first official cooperation MOU at Yeosu World Island Expo

South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su (left) and South Jeolla-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City Mayor Min Hyeong-bae pose for a photo after signing a mutual cooperation MOU at the main venue of the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo on Monday. [South Gyeongsang Province]
South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su (left) and South Jeolla-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City Mayor Min Hyeong-bae pose for a photo after signing a mutual cooperation MOU at the main venue of the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo on Monday. [South Gyeongsang Province]

South Gyeongsang Province and South Jeolla-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City have agreed to cooperate on developing the southern coastal region and fostering the aerospace industry. It marks the first official cooperation between the two sides since the launch of South Jeolla-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City.

South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su and South Jeolla-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City Mayor Min Hyeong-bae signed the "South Gyeongsang–South Jeolla-Gwangju Mutual Cooperation MOU" Monday afternoon at the press center of the main venue of the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo. About 110 officials from both regions attended the signing ceremony, including Hadong-gun County Chief Kim Hyeon-su, Yeosu Mayor Seo Yeong-hak, Tongyeong Deputy Mayor Yun In-guk, Sacheon Deputy Mayor Kim Je-hong and Namhae Deputy County Chief Jeong Seok-won.

The two local governments agreed to jointly petition the National Assembly and the central government for the swift enactment of a special law on southern coastal development and a special law on the construction of an aerospace complex city, and to cooperate throughout the legislative process. South Gyeongsang Province plans to work with South Jeolla-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City toward passing the aerospace complex city construction bill in the National Assembly by year's end, as the project is expected to serve as a growth foundation for western South Gyeongsang.

The two sides also agreed to develop concrete cooperation initiatives in the maritime and tourism sectors, including reducing marine pollution, restoring coastal ecosystems and identifying island tourism products. South Gyeongsang Province said that while various options — including the designation of free economic zones — were discussed during working-level reviews, both parties decided to focus first on enacting the two special laws and advancing marine and tourism projects. The two regions plan to identify joint projects linking their industrial, maritime and tourism resources, with the aim of translating cooperation into greater investment and regional economic growth.

"South Gyeongsang and South Jeolla-Gwangju must pool their strength across regional boundaries to make the southern coast a new growth engine for South Korea," Governor Park said. "We will respond closely to key issues such as the enactment of the two special laws, secure support from the government and the National Assembly, and deliver tangible results."

"The southern coast is a region endowed with rich maritime and tourism resources and the foundations of key national industries such as aerospace," Mayor Min said. "I hope this agreement marks a new starting point for cooperation between the Yeongnam and Honam regions. We will move beyond a declaration and work to translate our shared agenda into real improvements in residents' lives."

South Gyeongsang Province plans to hold National Assembly public hearings and forums to build the case for the special legislation and to develop concrete cooperation tasks with South Jeolla-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, with the broader goal of linking the southern coast's industrial, tourism and maritime resources into joint projects.


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