Daegu Incorporation of Gunwi-gun Passes Cabinet Meeting... Remaining Challenges Are Overwhelming

From July 1 Next Year, Many Remaining Tasks Such as Electoral District Delimitation and Road Construction Under Daegu Metropolitan City's Jurisdiction

On the 8th, when the National Assembly passed the bill to incorporate Gunwi-gun, Gyeongbuk into Daegu City, Kim Jin-yeol, the head of Gunwi-gun, and officials took a commemorative photo in front of the National Assembly.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that the bill titled "Act on the Change of Jurisdictional Boundaries between Gyeongsangbuk-do and Daegu Metropolitan City," which includes the incorporation of Gunwi-gun, under the jurisdiction of Gyeongsangbuk-do, into Daegu Metropolitan City, was approved at the Cabinet meeting on the 27th. Accordingly, Gunwi-gun's jurisdiction is scheduled to change to Daegu Metropolitan City starting July 1 next year.

The incorporation of Gunwi-gun into Daegu Metropolitan City is an administrative district reorganization agreed upon by Daegu Metropolitan City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Gunwi-gun for mutual development. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has actively reflected the purpose of the reorganization and local opinions in the legislative process. Through the enactment of this bill, the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region is expected to smoothly promote the construction of the integrated new airport and secure new growth engines.

Han Chang-seop, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, "We expect this legislation to contribute to revitalizing the regional economy and enhancing competitiveness," adding, "We will closely cooperate with related agencies and local governments to ensure the smooth incorporation of Gunwi-gun into Daegu Metropolitan City."

Once Gunwi-gun is incorporated into Daegu City, Daegu will change from its current 7 districts and 1 county to 7 districts and 2 counties. The area will increase by about 70%, from 884 km² to 1,498 km², making it the largest area among all special and metropolitan cities nationwide.

Although the major legal procedures for integration have been completed, it is pointed out that the chemical (social and administrative) integration is just beginning. The biggest issue is the redistricting of electoral constituencies. The population reference date for the 2024 22nd National Assembly general election redistricting is January 31 next year. In the 21st general election, the lower population limit for electoral districts was 139,000, and the upper limit was 278,000. If the population is below this, it merges with adjacent administrative districts; if above, the administrative district is divided into sections such as Gap, Eul, and Byeong.

Currently, Gunwi is part of the Gunwi-Uiseong-Cheongsong-Yeongdeok electoral district. If Gunwi, with a population of about 23,000, is removed, the Gunwi-Uiseong-Cheongsong-Yeongdeok electoral district will fall below the lower population limit, making adjustment inevitable. Therefore, options such as separating Yecheon from the adjacent Andong-Yecheon electoral district, separating Uljin from the Yeongju-Yeongyang-Uljin-Bonghwa electoral district, and separating part of Pohang-si Buk-gu electoral district are being discussed. However, all these options risk opposition from the affected constituencies, so smooth implementation is expected to be difficult.

Additionally, discussions are needed to stably incorporate six kindergartens, seven elementary schools, four middle schools, and two high schools in the Gunwi area into the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education.

Furthermore, the lack of a direct road connecting Daegu City and Gunwi-gun is also pointed out as a problem. Palgongsan Mountain blocks the way between Daegu City and Gunwi-gun. Daegu City plans to build a tunnel through Palgongsan. Recently, Hong Jun-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, said, "There is no direct road from Dong-gu, Daegu to Gunwi," and added, "We will create an air city around the airport to be relocated to Gunwi and Uiseong and build a Palgongsan tunnel connecting Dong-gu."