"Call for TK Integration Echoes Before National Assembly... 5 Million Residents Press for Action on Stalled Special Act"

As the passage of the Special Act on the Administrative Integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk continues to be delayed in the National Assembly, local civil society groups and political figures have raised their voices in front of the National Assembly, calling for prompt action on the bill. They argue that further postponement of establishing a supra-regional administrative system-needed to ease the concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area and to respond to the risk of regional extinction-should not be allowed.

Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, "Urgent Need for Quick Passage in the National Assembly" Daegu-Gyeongbuk City and Provincial Residents Association

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On March 4, the Seoul Daegu-Gyeongbuk City and Provincial Residents Association and the Daegu-Gyeongbuk City and Provincial Residents Association held a "Resolution Rally Urging the Swift Passage of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integration Special Act" near the National Assembly and called for an expedited review of the bill by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

Local figures and civil society representatives attended the rally, emphasizing the necessity and urgency of administrative integration between Daegu and Gyeongbuk. The participants stressed that "the administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk is not merely a matter of redrawing administrative boundaries, but a national task to ease the dominance of the Seoul metropolitan area and to overcome the crisis of regional extinction," adding, "The Special Act for Integration, reflecting the aspirations of 5 million city and provincial residents, must not face further delays at the doors of the National Assembly."

In their resolution, attendees called for ▲ prompt approval of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integration Special Act by the Judiciary Committee ▲ bipartisan cooperation in the National Assembly ▲ and the establishment of institutional foundations for the era of local autonomy, urging politicians to take responsible action.

At the event, Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, stated, "The administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk is not merely a reorganization of administrative districts, but a timely task to achieve balanced national development and to realize the era of local autonomy in the Republic of Korea." He added, "The Special Act for Integration, representing the will of 5 million city and provincial residents, must be promptly addressed in the National Assembly."

He went on to say, "I hope the National Assembly will respond to the urgent voices of the region and open the institutional path for Daegu and Gyeongbuk to become a new hub for growth."

A representative of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk City and Province Residents Association stated, "The integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk is an essential task for the region's survival and future competitiveness." The City and Province Residents Association

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Assemblyman Joo Ho-young also remarked, "The integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk is an important national strategy to enhance regional competitiveness and secure future growth engines for Korea," adding, "I will actively work at the parliamentary level to ensure the Special Act for Integration is processed swiftly."

He emphasized, "Establishing a supra-regional administrative system is essential to overcoming the crisis of regional extinction and ushering in a true era of local autonomy," and stressed, "The integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk should become the first model, and politicians must play a responsible role to make this happen."

People Power Party representative Jang Dong-hyuk also stated, "The integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk is a major policy initiative to strengthen regional competitiveness and create a new model for balanced national development." He continued, "The National Assembly must not further delay the passage of the bill, and People Power Party will actively support the swift processing of the Special Act for Integration."

Lee Dong-hwan, President of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk City and Provincial Residents Association, commented, "The integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk is an essential task for the survival and future competitiveness of the region." He urged, "The National Assembly must not turn its back on the aspirations of 5 million city and provincial residents and should make a responsible decision to pass the Special Act for Integration."

Residents of the Gyeongbuk region, wishing to see the Special Act on the Administrative Integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk passed, are participating together with a 93-year-old mother and taking photos with Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province. Daegu-Gyeongbuk City Residents Association

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Meanwhile, the administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk is a policy aimed at strengthening regional competitiveness and expanding local autonomy through the establishment of a supra-regional administrative system, with the passage of the related Special Act in the National Assembly seen as a key variable for the future progress of integration.

The administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk is not simply a reorganization of administrative boundaries, but a supra-regional administrative experiment driven by two pillars: responding to the risk of regional extinction and pursuing a national strategy for balanced development. However, the longer the Special Act remains stalled, the more the momentum for this policy initiative is likely to weaken. Ultimately, analysts say that the future direction of integration in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region will depend on the legislative decision of the National Assembly, bipartisan cooperation within political circles, and the degree to which the local community can unite around this cause.

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