Daejeon Mayor Lee Jangwoo Says "Patchwork Special Bill Has Passed... We Will Not Sit Idly By"

"Integration Special Act Without Substantive Authority Must Be Reconsidered"

"Daejeon’s Future Cannot Be Traded for an Empty-Shell Special Act"

"Legitimacy and Direction of Integration Must Ultimately Be Decided by Citizens’ Judgment"

Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon (Photo by Mo Seokbong)

On February 12, Daejeon Mayor Lee Jangwoo stated that the passage of the Chungnam–Daejeon Integration Special Act at the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee Subcommittee on Bill Review was "a patchwork special bill that has passed the subcommittee," adding, "The City of Daejeon will not sit idly by."

He went on to say, "The integration-related bill that passed the National Assembly subcommittee is nothing more than a patchwork bill that reflects the self-interest of central government ministries, where the core special provisions have been undermined under pressure from ministerial self-interest," and insisted that "an integration special act without substantive authority must be reconsidered."

Mayor Lee said, "The essence of administrative integration is not simply the merger of administrative districts, but the guarantee of genuine autonomy and the transfer of substantial powers," adding, "Despite the fact that this is an issue directly linked to the future of local regions, the City of Daejeon expresses grave concern that sufficient provisions for the transfer of real authority and financial support have not been included."

He continued, "If the structure of central government authority remains intact and only the outer form is changed, this will amount not to enhancing local competitiveness but merely creating new constraints," pressing the National Assembly and the government by stating, "Daejeon cannot agree to a downgraded, levelled-down integration model."

In particular, he stressed, "To achieve genuine decentralization, concrete and permanent power structures must be reflected in the law, including bold transfers of fiscal autonomy and authority over organization and personnel."

Mayor Lee said, "We cannot trade Daejeon’s future for an empty-shell special act. Daejeon demands not a formal special act, but highly complete legislation that guarantees substantive authority," and urged, "The government and the National Assembly must trust the autonomous capacity of local regions and respond with responsible decisions."

Finally, he added, "With regard to the call for a resident referendum on administrative integration, the government must no longer delay and should promptly clarify its position," emphasizing that "the legitimacy and direction of integration must ultimately be decided on the basis of citizens’ judgment."

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