Unified Call for Passage of Administrative Integration by Year-End; Daegu-Gyeongsangbuk-do Administrative Integration Promotion Team Launched in Full Swing

[Financial News, Daegu/Andong = Reporter Kim Jang-wook] Daegu Metropolitan City and Gyeongsangbuk-do gathered together and decided to respond with one voice and all-out effort toward administrative integration, including the passage of the Daegu-Gyeongsangbuk-do Administrative Integration Bill within the year.
On the 14th, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Daegu Metropolitan City held a meeting of the 'Daegu-Gyeongsangbuk-do Administrative Integration Promotion Team' at the Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Office and began a full-scale joint response to pass the administrative integration bill within the regular session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.
Vice Governor Hwang Myung-seok and Vice Mayor Kim Jeong-gi emphasized, "The greatest strength for the bill's passage is Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do speaking with one voice," adding, "We will work together to pass the special act within the regular session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea so that the integrated special city can be launched without setbacks in July 2028."
He added, "The strongest driving force for the passage of the bill is generated when the citizens of Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do raise one voice together," and stated, "Based on this unified strength, I will do my utmost to achieve the goal of passing the bill within the year."
The meeting was held amidst the recognition that the administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do must be achieved, given that South Jeolla Province (Jeonnam)-Gwangju Metropolitan City, which started administrative integration later than Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do, launched the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City last July and is enjoying integration benefits such as attracting 800 trillion won in semiconductor investment, accelerating the military airport relocation project, and providing financial support for administrative integration (worth 5 trillion won by 2027).
The two cities and provinces have decided to take joint action by preparing a step-by-step implementation plan, such as drafting joint explanatory materials on administrative integration and jointly visiting and explaining to members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and local lawmakers, so that the administrative integration bill currently pending in the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea can be promptly submitted as an agenda item to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in September and passed within the regular session.
In addition, the administrative integration bill currently pending in the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea contains supplementary provisions regarding special elections based on the premise of the launch of the integrated special city in July 2026; however, since the target date for the launch of the Daegu-Gyeongsangbuk-do Integrated Special City (July 2028) has now changed, it was shared that an amendment to the supplementary provisions is also absolutely necessary, and this was discussed in depth.
Given that administrative integration is a critical task for overcoming regional decline and realizing balanced national development, both cities and provinces plan to further strengthen efforts to persuade the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and engage in close consultation with relevant ministries to ensure the bill is passed during the regular session.
In particular, given that passing the bill within the regular session is the most urgent task, he urged the active interest and cooperation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and the government.
Meanwhile, even after the Special Act on Administrative Integration of Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do was put on hold by the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee last February, Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do have held several working-level meetings to push forward with administrative integration without wavering.
To accelerate the administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do following the launch of the 9th popular election, the head of the Daegu-Gyeongsangbuk-do Administrative Integration Promotion Team, a position previously held by the heads of the Planning and Coordination Offices of both cities and provinces until the 8th popular election, has been elevated to the level of a deputy head of a local government. Accordingly, Vice Governor Hwang and Vice Mayor Kim have been appointed as co-heads.

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