“Stop the Immediate Administrative Integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk”… Yeongju and Yecheon County Councils Pass Resolution Opposing It

The Yeongju City Council (Chairman Kim Byung-gi) announced the "Resolution Opposing the Gyeongbuk-Daegu Administrative Integration" at the 287th extraordinary session on the 30th.

The Yeongju City Council issued a resolution strongly opposing the Gyeongbuk-Daegu administrative integration, which is being re-pursued despite strong opposition from city and provincial residents. In this resolution, the Yeongju City Council warned that the administrative integration, which is being unilaterally pushed forward without the consent of the provincial residents, undermines democratic procedures and regional balanced development, and will cause serious economic disadvantages and alienation in the northern Gyeongbuk region.

Yeongju City Council members are shouting to stop the integration after adopting a resolution opposing the administrative integration of Gyeongbuk and Daegu. (From left) Lee Jaewon, Yoo Choongsang, Son Seongho, Kim Jooyoung, Lee Sanggeun (Vice Chairman), Kim Byungki (Chairman), Kim Jungsook, Jeon Gyuho, Kim Seyun, Jeon Poongrim, Woo Choongmu.

The Yeongju City Council criticized that "the discussion on the Gyeongbuk-Daegu administrative integration is being conducted behind closed doors according to the interests of metropolitan leaders without proper opinion gathering from city and provincial residents," and pointed out that "this is an arbitrary act that pushes forward a significant issue directly affecting the lives of city and provincial residents while ignoring their voices."

The Yeongju City Council expressed strong concerns about the possibility that the northern Gyeongbuk region will become a victim of the administrative integration. Currently, the northern Gyeongbuk region, including Yeongju City, is socially and economically underdeveloped, and if administrative integration takes place, resources will be concentrated in Daegu, making it clear that the northern region will be marginalized in the distribution of public services and development resources.

Furthermore, regarding claims that administrative integration will bring budget savings, the Yeongju City Council criticized these as ineffective falsehoods, pointing out that the administrative confusion and financial burdens arising during the integration process will be passed directly onto the residents.

The Yeongju City Council pledged to "demand policy implementation that guarantees regional balanced development and democratic procedures to protect the lives and rights of city and provincial residents, and to continue listening to the voices of the residents."

The Yecheon County Council (Chairman Kang Young-gu) also handled the agenda item "Resolution Opposing the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Administrative Integration," which was jointly proposed by Representative Park Jae-gil and all council members, at the plenary session held at 11 a.m. on the same day.

Chairman Kang Young-gu, in his closing remarks, stated, "Reflecting residents' opinions in policies is the true practice of democracy," and criticized, "However, the Daegu-Gyeongbuk administrative integration is using Gyeongbuk provincial residents and Daegu citizens for the political purposes of the two leaders without reflecting the opinions of the residents."

Chairman Kang also emphasized, "It ignores the right to express independent opinions and reduces city and provincial residents to mere bystanders," and stressed, "The Daegu-Gyeongbuk administrative integration must not proceed any further."

All nine members of the Yecheon County Council are voicing their opposition to the administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk. (From left) Anyang-suk, Lee Dong-hwa, Park Jae-gil (Vice Chairman), Kang Kyung-tak, Kang Young-gu (Chairman), Shin Hyang-soon, Choi Byung-wook, Kim Hong-nyeon, Jang Sam-gyu.

Representative Shin Hyang-soon raised issues regarding the Daegu-Gyeongbuk administrative integration during a five-minute speech. Representative Shin said, "The construction of a 100,000 self-sufficient new town, which has been prepared for 20 years, is also delayed," and added, "Regional integration hastily pushed forward with a set deadline cannot be the right answer for regional balanced development."

Representative Shin strongly urged the Gyeongbuk governor, Daegu mayor, and the government to stop the top-down integration discussions that promote division and hinder harmony, saying, "I strongly call for the suspension of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk administrative integration."