Gyeongbuk Province Holds Off TK Administrative Integration Until Political Situation Stabilizes... Rejects Daegu City's "Let's Do It Quickly" Request

Significant Transfer of Authority to Local Governments
Simple Administrative Merger Is Undesirable

On the 19th, Gyeongbuk Province reiterated its position regarding the Daegu-Gyeongbuk administrative integration, emphasizing that the core of administrative integration is local decentralization and balanced development. It stated that a simple administrative district merger without securing and guaranteeing authority, special provisions, and financial guarantees is undesirable.

Since the beginning of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk integration process, Gyeongbuk Province has clearly asserted local decentralization and balanced development as the fundamental direction of integration. In particular, it has prioritized strengthening the autonomy of cities and counties and balanced development of the northern and underdeveloped areas as the top tasks of the integration agreement, continuously reviewing and consulting on concrete measures to realize these goals.

Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Office

Under this policy, Gyeongbuk Province, together with Daegu City, has prepared a special law focusing on 249 authorities and special provisions. Gyeongbuk Province regards these authorities and special provisions as essential elements for the realization of substantial local decentralization and has demanded the formation of a government-wide integration support group and active review to reflect these special provisions as much as possible.

Additionally, during the integration promotion process, it has maintained the position that the government's acceptance of authorities and special provisions should be somewhat clarified before the provincial council's resolution.

However, by the end of last year, due to political circumstances, the government's integration support group and consultative body have not been formed, and the review process and active acceptance by the government to secure authorities and special provisions have not proceeded smoothly.

Regarding Daegu City, which completed the city council resolution procedure first and requested the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council's resolution procedure under these circumstances, Gyeongbuk Province holds the position that rather than hastily pushing forward with council resolutions and other procedures without guaranteeing the basic contents of integration, it is preferable to proceed with the provincial council resolution and subsequent procedures based on sufficient consultations with the government about integration after the current political situation stabilizes and the government's stance and acceptance level of special provisions are somewhat determined.

This stems from a strategic judgment to ensure that integration is not merely trapped by schedule and speed but that decentralization, balanced development measures, and special provisions are maximally reflected, guaranteeing the effect of integration and making it a groundbreaking turning point for substantial regional development.

Going forward, Gyeongbuk Province plans to maintain the existing principles and direction of integration while conducting consultations with the central government and Daegu City, as well as proceeding with procedures such as those of the council, in accordance with these comprehensive principles, directions, and circumstances.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.