Jeong Cheong-rae Proposes Talks with Jang Dong-hyuk on Daejeon–South Chungcheong Integration

[Financial News] On the 23rd, Democratic Party of Korea leader Jeong Cheong-rae proposed a meeting with People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk to reach a bipartisan agreement on administrative integration between Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province.
At a supreme council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Jeong pointed out that the People Power Party is opposing the special integration bill for Daejeon–South Chungcheong, one of the three regional integration bills for Gwangju–South Jeolla, Daegu–North Gyeongsang, and Daejeon–South Chungcheong. He argued, "This is not something to oppose based on electoral gains or losses," and went on to say, "I propose an official meeting between the two party leaders to make substantive progress on the Daejeon–South Chungcheong integration."
Jeong noted that both he and Jang are originally from South Chungcheong Province and said, "For balanced national development and for the development of our hometown, the two of us should first sit down together and have a serious discussion." He urged, "We must narrow our differences, swiftly finalize any points on which we can agree, and report back to the public in a responsible manner."
People Power Party metropolitan and provincial leaders, including Lee Jang-woo, Mayor of Daejeon, and Kim Tae-heum, Governor of South Chungcheong Province, oppose the administrative integration bill. They argue that there is insufficient transfer of substantive central government authority, including in the area of fiscal decentralization.

uknow@fnnews.com Reporter Kim Yun-ho Reporter