Amid reports that the ruling and opposition parties have tentatively agreed to separate Yecheon from the Andong-Yecheon electoral district in Gyeongbuk, Andong Mayor Kwon Ki-chang held a press conference on the 1st and issued a statement urging to "maintain the Andong-Yecheon electoral district."
In the statement, Mayor Kwon said, "Over the past decade, through the relentless efforts of the residents of Andong and Yecheon, the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government New Town has been progressing toward becoming a self-sufficient city of 100,000 people, growing into the administrative center of Gyeongbuk Province, and aiming to be a key city in the northern region of Gyeongbuk. Separating the Andong-Yecheon electoral district at this point, when the public and private sectors are working together for mutual growth, disregards the wishes of the local residents who desire regional development."
Andong Mayor Kwon Ki-chang is holding a press conference opposing the separation of the Andong-Yecheon electoral district.
He particularly emphasized, "Andong and Yecheon are linked through the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government New Town, and separating them would hinder the transformation of both cities into new growth hubs in the northern region and could weaken the spirit of coexistence and harmony," and demanded, "Reflecting geographical conditions, transportation and living cultural zones, administrative districts, and regional characteristics, please maintain the Andong-Yecheon electoral district, which jointly secured the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government."
Mayor Kwon also stated, "Andong and Yecheon unified their electoral district with passionate support from city and county residents during the 2020 21st National Assembly electoral district delimitation process, following their joint hosting of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government in 2008, to promote mutual harmony and development," and stressed, "Since political integration has been achieved, the separation of the Andong-Yecheon electoral district is unthinkable."
The separation of the Andong-Yecheon electoral district was reported through media as a tentative agreement between the ruling and opposition parties. In response, nine organizations, including the Andong-Yecheon Administrative District Integration New Town Promotion Committee and representatives of civic groups, who have expressed their stance through press conferences urging the maintenance of the Andong-Yecheon electoral district, also attended the press conference on the same day.
These organizations strongly opposed the separation of the Andong-Yecheon electoral district, calling it "a betrayal of the wish for mutual development of the two cities and counties."
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