Lee Ho-sung, a councilman from Muan County, has proposed a two-track strategy that aims to simultaneously pursue the upgrade of Muan to city status while also reforming the administrative districts of Ilro and Samhyang to separate rural areas from new urban developments.
During a five-minute speech at the seventh session of the 310th Muan County Council on August 3, Lee stated, "While we must steadfastly pursue the upgrade to city status, we also need to address practical administrative demands by advancing the Ilro and Samhyang district separation strategy concurrently."
Lee noted that Muan County has been working towards city status since the enactment of a supporting ordinance in 2007, which included forming a county-wide promotion committee, holding policy discussions, and implementing population policies. He emphasized that while these efforts should continue, practical constraints must also be taken into account.
He explained the realistic challenges of achieving city status based on the current demographic structure of Muan County. As of the end of June 2026, the population of Muan County stands at 95,659, with the populations of Namak New Town and Oryong New Town accounting for over half of that total. However, there remains a significant gap from the 150,000 residents required under local government law for the establishment of a city.
Lee stressed the need for a strategy that reflects reality, as the enactment of special laws or amendments requires cooperation from the central government and the National Assembly, rather than a singular focus on city status.
As the first part of his proposal, Lee suggested enhancing the existing city upgrade strategy. He argued for the continuous increase of the population through the creation of quality jobs, expansion of industrial infrastructure, and improvement of living conditions, while systematically accumulating data to demonstrate urban living conditions. He also proposed that improvements to special laws and systems should be pursued in collaboration with local political circles to reflect the characteristics of Muan, where the integrated special city hall is located.
For the second strategy, Lee proposed a phased separation of the rural areas of Ilro and Samhyang from the new towns. He suggested that Ilro should be restructured as an independent administrative unit for Oryong New Town, while Samhyang should be considered for the same for Namak New Town. He emphasized the need to prioritize the separation requirements for Namak and to enhance the functions of the branch office in Oryong as it approaches a population of 20,000, creating a roadmap for gradual separation.
Lee outlined the expected benefits of this separation, including enhanced expertise in rural and urban administration, increased political representation for Muan following the launch of the integrated special city, and strengthened arguments for securing national and special city funding that reflects financial needs.
He particularly noted that focusing on agriculture and community welfare in rural areas while concentrating on urban administration related to transportation, education, and social infrastructure in new towns could improve administrative efficiency and resident satisfaction.
However, Lee cautioned that administrative district reform should not conflict with the city upgrade strategy, warning that dispersing urban populations or weakening legal requirements could undermine the rationale for city status. He stressed the necessity of professional studies and public discourse among residents as prerequisites.
In conclusion, Lee stated, "The upgrade to city status is a significant goal for Muan's future, while district separation is a practical preparation to meet today's administrative demands. We must begin a responsible two-track strategy that provides careful support for rural areas and professional management for new towns."
Since the enactment of the supporting ordinance for city transition in 2007, Muan County has prioritized city status as a core administrative goal, focusing recently on population growth, improvement of living conditions, and expansion of industrial infrastructure to lay the groundwork for the upgrade.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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