Interior ministry expands medal nomination rights to Gwangju-Jeonnam special city

The interior ministry said Tuesday it has expanded the list of officials authorized to recommend civil servants for state honors to include the head of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Special City, widening a presidential decree that governs who may nominate candidates for decorations.

The change adds the integrated special city's mayor to the officials named in Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the Enforcement Decree of the Awards and Decorations Act. Under the revised rule, medals for public servants belonging to the special city are to be recommended by its mayor.

The revision was made to align the decree with the Special Act on the Establishment of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Special City, which was enacted to create the new local government. The amendment was promulgated and took effect on Sept. 29, the day it was issued, following deliberation by the Cabinet.

The revised decree broadens the recommendation authority that previously rested with the Seoul mayor under the Act on Administrative Exceptions for Seoul, along with other officeholders covered by the provision. It adds the integrated special city mayor, as defined in Article 46 of the special establishment act, to that group.

President Lee Jae-myung signed the decree, which was promulgated as Presidential Decree No. 36719. Prime Minister Han Seong-suk and Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung also signed the measure.

The Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Special City, which governs areas including Goheung County and the Seo district, is an existing local government that appeared in a government press release issued in September 2026.

The interior ministry oversees the state honors and government awards system. In its filing, the ministry cited the enactment of the special law as the reason for broadening the recommendation authority to the integrated special city's mayor.