Getting rid of the cities and counties?

There's talk of rearranging the country's administrative divisions, with the Korea Times bringing news of a referendum planned for next year on the topic of getting rid of the existing cities and provinces and merging everyone into a few big ones.

Currently, Korea has 230 counties and cities, nine provinces and seven metropolitan cities, including Seoul.

The presidential office reportedly favors a plan whereby the nation is divided into seven large districts called the ``Five Plus Two Zones'' plan.

Meanwhile, GNP and DP leaders are known to be reviewing a proposal to merge the current 230 counties and cities into 60 to 70 counties.

These discussions apparently has been going on for a little while: Wikipedia cites two articles on the theme from April 2005, though both are currently unavailable.

The existing provinces (do) and metropolitan cities (gwangyeoksi) would be eliminated. The current gu, si, and gun units would be reorganized into about 60 "metropolitan cities" with a population of roughly 1 million each. Beyond this, the details of the reform have not been decided.

I can think of no benefits to such restructuring, but I would be interested to hear some. I mean, first of all, you'd have to redesign all the websites, signage, stationary, and promotional material, and it sounds funny but I don't think that's a trivial matter when you're talking about nationwide changes. I thought about potential disconnect people might feel if they were reorganized under different place names, but then again this kind of movement has been very common, though not to such a radical degree. Then again, given the marked regionalism we find, what are the chances of people from one area, who pride themselves on their own unique character traits, will coexist with citizens from another, who by popular opinion are always attributed labels like "sneaky," "corrupt," "two-faced," "pretentious," or whatever. I, for one, would hate to see the current divisions go, given they usually have some historical or geographical significance.

I've previously mentioned the potential Suncheon-Gwangyang-Yeosu merger, and considerations to merge Yeongam-Gangjin-Jangheung counties. County and township borders have been reshuffled a lot over the years, though I can't find a readable history of all the moves. Whenever this topic comes up I like to cite this passage from the Jeollanam-do government's website, which reads more like the list of who begat whom in the Bible. Here's the history from 1980 to 1989:

Suggog and Jisan branch offices in Gwangju-city were reorganized and then Pug-gu ward office was created by reorganization of the administrative district in accordance with Presidential Decree No.6930 on Sept.26, 1979. Samil-and Dolsan-myeons of Yeocheon-county were promoted to each Samil-up and Dolsan-up, Gwansan- and Daedeok-myeons of Jangheong-country to each Gwansan-up and Daeduk-up. Ilro-myeon of Muan-county to Ilro-up, Gumil-and Nohwa-myeons of Wando-county to Gumil-up and Nohwa-up, Jido-myeon of Shinam-county to Jido-up and 9 myeons of 6 counties were promoted to up by Presidential Decree No.10050 on Oct.21, 1980.
Gumsung-si was created by integrating partial areas of Naju-up and Yeongsanpo-up by Law No.3425 on July 1, 1981(promulgated on Apr.13, 1981), and Daegeom-myeon in Gwangyang-county, Dodeog-myeon in Goheong-country, Pukil-myeon in Haenam-country.
Unnam-myeon on Muan-country, Jindo-myeon, Palgum-myeon and Sineui-myeon were created in Shinan-county on Feb.15, 1983 according to the reorganization of administrative districts by the regulation to alter the districts of city, county, ward, up and myeon and to alter myeon boundary by Presidential Decree No.11027 on Jan.10, 1983.
Ssangam of Seungju-county was promoted to Seungju-up and Hongnong-myeon of Yeonggwang-county to Hongnong-up by presidential Decree No.11772(promulgated on Sept.26, 1985) on Oct. 1, 1985. Yeocheon branch office was expanded to Yeocheon-si and Gumsung-si into Naju-si by Law No.37985(promulgated on Dec. 28, 1985) on Jan.1, 1986 . Gwangyang branch office was established by Jeonnam provincial Law No.1554 on Dec.30,1986.
Yangsan branch office of Junam-myeon, Goheong-county was promoted Sanae-myeon of Goheong-county and Hoijin branch office of Daedug-up of Jangheong-county to Hoijin-myeon of Jangheong-county, Gumdong branch office of Gumil-myeon, Wando- county to Gumdang-myeon, Wando-county and Bokil branch office of Nohwa-up, Wando-county to Bokil-myeon, Wando-county by Presidential Decree No.11814 on Apr.1, 1986 and the existing Gwangju-city was promoted to Gwangju Municipal city and separated from the province, and the administrative districts of this province were changed into 6 cities ,22 counties and I branch Office,(29 ups, 208 myeons) 96 dongs, 33 branch offices of up and myeon and 6,491 dongs and ris).
Samhyang-dong of Mokpo-si was established by Jeonnam Provincial Law No.1081 on Jan.1, 1987, Songjeong-si and Gwangsan-county were included in Gwangju-city by Law No.3963 on Jan.1, 1988.
Jugpo branch office(area 31.30) of Yeocheon-county and Pyungpoongdo branch office( area 3.34㎢) of Jeundo-myeon, Shinan-county were established by Jeonnam Provincial Law No.1177 on March. 5, 1988 and Gwangyang branch office was promoted to Donggwangyang-si by Law No.4050 and Taeun branch office(area 5.01) of Hugsan-myeon and Goyido branch office(area 0.5㎢) of Ape-myeon, Shinan-county were established by Jeonnam Provincial Law No.1284 on Jan.1, 1989. Sengil branch office of Daeju-myeon, Gangjin-county was changed into Mary-myeon and Sannae-myeon of Goheong-county into Yongnam-myeon on Apr.1, 1989.

Slightly related, the government has talked about designating each part of the country as a "hub" of something; more on that topic here.