Discussion on Current Issues with Governor Lee Cheol-woo
"I Understand the Direction of TK Integration"
Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, discussed major regional issues with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who visited the Gyeongbuk Provincial Office on the 1st.
The key issues discussed that day included support for the successful hosting of the 2025 APEC Summit, administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk, and the establishment of a medical school in the Gyeongbuk region, all important provincial government tasks for Gyeongbuk.
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is visiting the Gyeongbuk Provincial Office and smiling brightly while talking with Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo (right).
Governor Lee expressed gratitude for the passage of the APEC Special Act in the National Assembly on the 28th, saying, “The passage of the Special Act in the National Assembly has greatly strengthened our preparations for APEC. We will do our best to host the most successful international event in history.” He also requested, “Following the enactment of the law in the National Assembly, we ask for special support and cooperation, including securing budgets through the establishment and increase of related funds.”
He further stated, “It is the first time I have seen a budget bill processed in the National Assembly that only reflects budget cuts. It is also problematic to pass the APEC Special Act but not provide additional budget support.” He added, “Since the government’s proposal actively includes the APEC budget and Gyeongbuk Province has additionally requested some increases, I ask the National Assembly to review this.”
In response, Lee Jae-myung said, “I fully agree with the successful hosting of APEC representing the Republic of Korea, and if an increase is needed in the National Assembly, I will consult with the government.”
Governor Lee emphasized that the administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk is a national reform that opens a true era of local autonomy where the region is the master through complete acquisition of self-governing rights, and requested attention and support at the National Assembly level. Lee Jae-myung responded, “I understand the direction of integration, and in the long term, the local administrative system should be regionalized, with the independence of finances, administrative autonomy, decentralization, and strengthening of authority being important.”
In particular, both Governor Lee Cheol-woo and Leader Lee Jae-myung agreed on the necessity of preventing centralization through integration and achieving balanced development within Daegu and Gyeongbuk along with national balanced development. They shared the view that a balanced development strategy focusing on development measures for the northern region is most important.
Additionally, Governor Lee Cheol-woo proposed cooperation for the establishment of medical schools at Andong National University and POSTECH, which will serve as bases in the northern part of Gyeongbuk, to improve the poor regional medical environment.
In response, Lee Jae-myung said, “From the perspective of public healthcare, I understand the reality and difficulties of medical blind spots, and I will carefully consider the establishment of medical schools in regions such as Gyeongbuk and Jeonnam.”
The Gyeongbuk Province evaluated that the meeting and dialogue that day provided a good opportunity to discuss the regional issues of Gyeongbuk in detail.
During the meeting, Lee Jae-myung expressed gratitude to Governor Lee Cheol-woo for protecting and developing his hometown Gyeongbuk amid population decline and the risk of local extinction, and promised cooperation and support for Gyeongbuk’s major issues.
Meanwhile, Governor Lee Cheol-woo visited the National Assembly on the 26th and requested an increase in the national budget for major Gyeongbuk projects from members of the People Power Party, as well as meeting with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and Deputy Speaker Lee Hak-young.
At that time, he also stopped by Lee Jae-myung’s office to deliver proposal materials, and now that Lee Jae-myung has visited the Gyeongbuk Provincial Office, direct discussions on those matters are expected to attract attention and support from both the government and the National Assembly.
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