Agreement Reached on Launch of TK Unified Autonomous Body in July 2026... Four-Party Talks Held in Seoul

Enactment of Integrated Special Act Within This Year

Formation of Pan-Governmental Integrated Support Team

At 3 p.m. on the 4th, Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sangmin, Chairman of the Local Era Committee Woo Donggi, Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo, and North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheolwoo gathered at the Seoul Government Complex to discuss strategies for promoting the integration of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.

First, regarding the necessity of integrating Daegu and North Gyeongsang, Mayor Hong and Governor Lee expressed that the integration of the two metropolitan governments is urgent to secure new growth engines and enhance regional competitiveness.

A four-party meeting for the integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk is taking place. (From left) Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongbuk; Hong Junpyo, Mayor of Daegu; Lee Sangmin, Minister of the Interior and Safety; Woo Donggi, Chairman of the Local Era Committee.

In response, Minister Lee and Chairman Woo agreed on the need for integration, stating that it aligns with the government's planned administrative system reforms to address national crises such as population decline, regional extinction, and the concentration of resources in the Seoul metropolitan area.

The basic direction for integration includes promoting integration based on the Daegu-North Gyeongsang agreement and preparing government-level support measures.

First, Daegu and North Gyeongsang will prepare an integration plan that can gain the support of 5 million residents, and after obtaining approval from the city and provincial councils, will push for the enactment of the 'Daegu-North Gyeongsang Integration Special Act' by the end of the year.

The government will review ways to provide direct and indirect financial support and grant administrative and fiscal special provisions so that the Daegu-North Gyeongsang integration can serve as a leading example of administrative system reform.

Going forward, the government plans to establish a 'Pan-Governmental Integration Support Team' with the participation of relevant ministries to actively support the Daegu-North Gyeongsang agreement and to detail government-level support measures for the integration.

Regarding the implementation schedule, the parties agreed to carry out the necessary procedures this year with the goal of enacting the special law, aiming to launch the integrated local government on July 1, 2026.

Once the working-level team for Daegu-North Gyeongsang administrative integration prepares an agreement, a second meeting will be held to continue further discussions.