• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.388-404
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• 2017

The Union of Kansai Governments of Japan is regarded as a bench marking for the successful cooperation, alliance, and cooperation of neighboring local governments. The Union of Kansai Governments was a realization several active plan of the Kansai Economic Federation. The purpose of this study is to examine the roles of the Kansai Economic Federation in the process for establishment of the Union of Kansai Governments, searching for theoretical implications for the inter-municipal cooperation of Gwangyand Bay in South Korea. In particular, this study review the activities and roles of the Kansai Economic Federation in relation with the establishment of a number of promotional organizations and governance systems. We played special attention to the three important factors carried out by the Kansai Economic Federation, that is, the contineous activities, the accumulated research results, and establishment of various promotion organizations and effective governance systems. We suggest, in conclusion, that these three factors would also have very important policy implications for the discussion of inter-municipal cooperation among three cities, Yeosu, Suncheon, and Gwangyang.