"Late Obstruction"... Hong Joon-pyo Expresses Regret Again Over Failed TK Integration

Hong Jun-pyo, Mayor of Daegu

Hong Joon-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, once again expressed his regret over the collapse of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) administrative integration discussions.

On the 31st, Mayor Hong posted on Facebook, "The integration model previously discussed by Mayor Kwon Young-jin (Daegu) and Governor Lee Cheol-woo (Gyeongbuk) was the existing province-centered integration model that placed Daegu Special City within the Gyeongsangbuk-do Special Autonomous Province. The administrative model we are currently pursuing is an administrative model that abolishes the supporting institution, the province, and transitions to an executive institution called Daegu-Gyeongbuk Special City," adding, "It is an innovative administrative model that abolishes the province for the first time and transitions to a special metropolitan city system."

Mayor Hong continued, "It is truly regrettable that, without even recognizing this, there was an agreement on Daegu-Gyeongbuk Special City but then a late obstruction," and said, "At the beginning of the integration discussions, when I said qualitative integration rather than quantitative integration, that was exactly what I meant." He added, "In any case, it is unfortunate that this integration has been postponed as a long-term task, but we cannot help but be satisfied that we have presented a new model of local administrative reform not only to academia but also to the political world."

Earlier, on the 27th, Mayor Hong announced the collapse of the administrative integration discussions on Facebook, saying, "I deeply regret that the TK integration local administrative reform discussions have collapsed like this." On the 29th, he also said, "Daegu and Gyeongbuk had hoped to unite and rise as the second largest city on the Korean Peninsula, surpassing the three major cities, and rivaling Seoul Special City, but it was regrettably canceled." He continued, "Once again, I apologize to the citizens of the city and province who hoped for the rise as the second largest city on the Korean Peninsula through integration, and I will devote all my efforts to completing 100 innovations in Daegu City."