Lee Cheolwoo, Gyeongbuk Governor, and Kim Jeonggi, Acting Daegu Mayor, Agree to Swiftly Proceed with TK Administrative Integration

Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, and Kim Jeonggi, Acting Mayor of Daegu, agreed on January 20 on the necessity and direction of integrating Daegu and Gyeongbuk, and decided to swiftly proceed with the relevant procedures.

Governor Lee and Acting Mayor Kim met at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Office that day to discuss the direction, schedule, and procedures for promoting administrative integration, and made this announcement in a joint statement.

Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province (right), and Kim Jeonggi, Acting Mayor of Daegu, shake hands after agreeing on the necessity of administrative integration and reaching a consensus to swiftly promote the integration according to the procedures.

Governor Lee and Acting Mayor Kim stated, "Today, Gyeongbuk Province and Daegu City held in-depth discussions on whether and how to pursue integration. As a result, we once again confirmed our agreement on the necessity and direction of integration, and have decided to formally proceed with the integration procedures in connection with Daejeon-Chungnam and Gwangju-Jeonnam."

They added, "First, we will thoroughly consult with the provincial council and seek its resolution for the integration initiative. At the same time, we will further gather opinions from local residents and work closely with the National Assembly to ensure that the subsequent integration procedures are carried out swiftly and responsibly."

Governor Lee and Acting Mayor Kim emphasized, "For the integration to truly succeed, there must be concrete measures for balanced national development in underdeveloped regions and bold delegation of authority from the central government. Through this, the integrated special city should be able to effectively perform its overall coordination functions for economic and industrial development, balanced growth, and metropolitan administration, while also expanding the authority and autonomy of cities, counties, and districts."

Regarding the government's recent announcement of support for integration, they evaluated, "The direction and content of the support are broadly aligned with the plans that Daegu and Gyeongbuk have jointly prepared, and they generally meet the high hopes and expectations for integration."

They continued, "Currently, South Korea and Daegu-Gyeongbuk stand at a crucial crossroads, and since Daegu-Gyeongbuk has taken the lead in preparation, we will confidently spearhead this historic national integration. Together with cities, counties, provincial and municipal councils, and all residents, we will make this a transformative moment in the future of Daegu and Gyeongbuk."

Additionally, they explained, "Since 2020, Daegu and Gyeongbuk have been the first in the nation to actively initiate discussions on integration, and the participation of Daegu and Gyeongbuk is essential for successful national administrative integration. Through extensive public discussions, we have established the necessity and direction of integration, and even during the pandemic, we have continued these discussions without interruption."