Kim Tae-heum Urges Leader Jang Donghyuk to Pass the Original Daejeon-South Chungcheong Special Law

"If Any of the 257 Special Provisions Are Excluded, Administrative Integration Is Meaningless... Transfer of National Authority Is Key"

Kim Tae-heum, Governor of South Chungcheong Province, requested Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, to ensure the passage of the original version of the special law, which will determine the success or failure of the Daejeon-South Chungcheong administrative integration.

He also stated that only a special law fully reflecting all 257 special provisions would serve as the true starting point for practical local autonomy capable of challenging the dominance of the Seoul metropolitan area.

On January 14, Governor Kim met with Leader Jang Donghyuk in the governor's reception room to discuss policy directions regarding the "Special Law for the Establishment of Daejeon-South Chungcheong Special City and the Creation of an Economic and Science Capital."

During the meeting, Governor Kim said, "Daejeon and South Chungcheong cannot compete with the Seoul metropolitan area if they act separately. Only by achieving administrative integration and establishing large-scale governance can we truly restore balance to the nation's growth axis."

He particularly emphasized, "All 257 special provisions contained in the special law submitted to the National Assembly must be reflected in their original form."

These special provisions include the transfer of core national affairs currently controlled by the central government to the local level, such as the delegation of fiscal authority, the Geumgang Basin Environmental Office, labor administration, and farmland conversion approvals.

Governor Kim stated, "Administrative integration is not just about merging names; it is about bringing both authority and financial resources together. Without these special provisions, the integration would be nothing but an empty shell."

He further emphasized, "Since South Chungcheong is the first in the country to initiate integration discussions and propose a special law, leaving the outcome unfinished would be tantamount to committing a historical wrongdoing."

He also publicly called on the president and the ruling party to make a political decision, saying, "If the central government and the National Assembly do not make a decisive move, local extinction and overconcentration in the Seoul metropolitan area will not stop."

In response, Leader Jang stated, "The Daejeon-South Chungcheong administrative integration should not be a mere showpiece reform but must become a touchstone for genuine local autonomy. The party will actively support the inclusion of all 257 special provisions."