Joo Hoyoung of the People Power Party is leaving the National Assembly on Feb. 26, 2026, after discussing the special bill to integrate Daegu and North Gyeongsang with People Power Party lawmakers from those regions. Yonhap News

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The People Power Party on February 26 collected opinions from National Assembly members from Daegu and North Gyeongsang (TK) regarding the internal strife over administrative integration of the two regions (12 lawmakers from Daegu and 13 from North Gyeongsang), and found that a majority expressed support. Attention is focusing on whether the embers of TK integration will be rekindled.

On the morning of the same day at the National Assembly, the People Power Party held a closed vote among lawmakers from the TK region on whether they support the Special Act on TK Integration. As internal conflict intensified, with party leaders coming under fire over the Legislative and Judiciary Committee’s decision to put the special act on hold, the party moved to gather opinions.

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is entering and greeting lawmakers at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on Feb. 26 as he held a senior leadership meeting to discuss the direction the party should take, including the 'Jeolyun' issue, ahead of the June 3 local elections. 2026.2.26 Yonhap News Agency

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The 12 Daegu lawmakers decided, without a separate vote, to unanimously request that the special act be put to a vote and passed. Lawmaker Kwon Youngjin told reporters, "We asked the leadership to handle it during this session together with the Gwangju–South Jeolla Special Act."

Lawmakers from North Gyeongsang went through a secret ballot. As a result of the vote, there were more opinions in favor of handling the special act. Koo Jageun, the provincial party committee chairman, also met with reporters immediately after the meeting and said, "Lawmakers from constituencies in northern North Gyeongsang strongly expressed their opposition, but in the end we decided to go with the side in favor," adding, "We conveyed to the leadership that, once a conclusion is reached regarding the integration act, we want swift action to be taken."

Koo Jageun, chairman of the People Power Party's North Gyeongsang Provincial Committee, is heading to a conference room at the National Assembly on Feb. 26, 2026, to discuss the Daegu and North Gyeongsang integration special bill with People Power Party lawmakers from Daegu and North Gyeongsang. Photo by Yonhap News

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Within the People Power Party, there is no dispute over the broader cause of integration, but the political calculations are complex. In North Gyeongsang, there are many voices of concern. One lawmaker from the region said, "If you look at Gunwi County, its population actually decreased after it was incorporated into Daegu." In the northern part of North Gyeongsang, lawmakers are calling for explicit incentives such as infrastructure development.

Daegu lawmakers are also in favor, but their underlying motives differ. In Daegu, five incumbent lawmakers have already declared their candidacies for the mayoral race. One Daegu-area lawmaker said, "The direction is right, but the substance is lacking."

With the decision made on this day, the embers of TK integration will be able to burn on for the time being. However, it remains uncertain whether the conflict will be resolved. People Power Party lawmaker Joo Hoyoung, who is running for Daegu mayor, has even raised the possibility of leaving the party or resigning his seat if administrative integration falls through. In North Gyeongsang, gubernatorial hopefuls such as Kim Jaewon and Choi Kyunghwan are opposed. A party official expressed concern, saying, "We have fallen victim to a divide-and-rule tactic by the ruling bloc."

Song Eonseok, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is leaving the National Assembly after discussing a special bill to integrate Daegu and Gyeongbuk with People Power Party lawmakers on the 26th. 2026.2.26 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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In Daejeon and South Chungcheong, the ruling and opposition parties are fiercely trading blame. Within the ruling Democratic Party, lawmakers from the Chungcheong region are staging a sit-in, demanding that the People Power Party adopt an official party line. The People Power Party, whose incumbent mayors and governors have voiced opposition, said it is "opposed to a botched integration."

These administrative integration bills are expected to face a final deadline at the plenary session on March 3 next month.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is expected on the afternoon of February 26 to forcibly end the People Power Party’s unlimited debate (filibuster), which will have passed the 24-hour mark, and move to pass a partial amendment to the Criminal Act (the so-called "Distortion of Law Crime" bill).