Democratic Party Launches Daejeon-Chungnam Special Committee... Will It Open the Door to the “5 Major Metropolitan Areas and 3 Special Autonomous Provinces”?

Accelerating Regional Integration
"The Official Beginning of Balanced Development"

The Democratic Party of Korea has accelerated discussions on the integration of Daejeon and Chungnam by launching a special party committee. Attention is focused on whether this move will serve as the starting point for establishing the “5 Major Metropolitan Areas and 3 Special Autonomous Provinces” system, a key national agenda of the Lee Jaemyung administration.

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the 1st plenary meeting of the Special Committee on the Integration of Daejeon and Chungnam and the Development of the Chungcheong Region held at the National Assembly on December 24, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

On December 24 at the National Assembly, the Democratic Party of Korea held the “Inauguration Ceremony and 1st Plenary Meeting of the Special Committee on the Integration of Daejeon and Chungnam and the Development of the Chungcheong Region.” Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who attended the ceremony, described the integration of Daejeon and Chungnam as “the official beginning of balanced national development.” He added, “Several administrative procedures are already underway, so if the law passes in the National Assembly, integration could be achieved in as little as one month.”

Hwang Myungseon, Supreme Council member and chairperson of the special committee, stated, “We will ensure a level of financial resources and autonomy equivalent to that of Seoul Metropolitan City and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.” Hwang further explained, “Throughout January, we will conduct a public discussion process to fully hear the opinions of Chungnam residents and Daejeon citizens. Based on these opinions, we plan to propose a special law by January, or at the latest by early February, and have it processed in the National Assembly in February.” He added, “We aim to elect the integrated city’s mayor on June 3 (local elections) and launch the integrated special city on July 1.”

The special committee was formed after President Lee Jaemyung invited Democratic Party lawmakers from the Daejeon and Chungnam regions to the presidential office for a luncheon meeting on December 18. The committee will collect opinions and decide on specific details such as the name and government office location of the integrated city. The committee is co-chaired by Assembly members Park Beomgye, Lee Jeongmoon, and Park Jeonghyeon. Lawmakers representing Daejeon and Chungnam districts, regional party heads, and local government leaders are also included as members.

The integration of Daejeon and Chungnam is being interpreted as the starting point for the Lee Jaemyung administration’s “5 Major Metropolitan Areas and 3 Special Autonomous Provinces” policy. The administration plans to divide the country into five major regions-Seoul Metropolitan Area, Southeast Region (Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam), Daegu-Gyeongbuk Region, Central Region (Chungcheong), and Honam Region-and three special autonomous provinces: Jeju, Gangwon, and Jeonbuk, to achieve balanced national growth. Jeong Cheongrae also emphasized, “This is the first step of the 5 Major Metropolitan Areas and 3 Special Autonomous Provinces agenda under the Lee Jaemyung administration. If an integrated economic zone with a population of 3.6 million and a gross regional product of 190 trillion won is established, Chungcheong will become a new driving force for Korea.”