On February 20, Daegu City announced that the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integration Special Act bill, whose special provisions were significantly expanded to a final total of 391 articles, passed the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee on February 12, thereby establishing a legal foundation for regional growth. The city added that it will make an all-out effort ahead of the upcoming deliberations and votes at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee next week and the plenary session.
The Daegu-Gyeongbuk Special Act bill, during the review process at the Bill Review Subcommittee of the Public Administration and Security Committee, incorporated 256 of the original 335 articles as a result of Daegu and Gyeongbuk’s persistent requests for additional inclusion. With 135 new special-provision articles added, the bill was ultimately expanded to 391 articles.
The Public Administration and Security Committee basically adjusted the level of special provisions in the special act bill by taking into account the balance among the three regions of Daegu-Gyeongbuk, Gwangju-Jeonnam, and Daejeon-Chungnam, while also incorporating certain specialization articles that reflect the specific conditions and characteristics of each region.
In the economic and industrial sectors, core special provisions were included to foster regional key industries and companies under local leadership, such as: the designation of a Global Future Special Zone, under which nine special zones are deemed approved and corporate investment conditions are dramatically improved; special provisions for nurturing the intelligent robotics industry; priority designation as a specialized complex for national high-tech strategic industries; and priority designation as an Opportunity and Development Special Zone.
For AI, the bill includes special provisions for establishing a strategic base for artificial intelligence semiconductors, as well as for designating demonstration districts for artificial intelligence semiconductors and granting regulatory exemptions there. Through these measures, it will become possible to build R&D infrastructure for artificial intelligence semiconductors, support the founding and growth of companies, cultivate specialized talent, and establish artificial intelligence semiconductor data centers. In addition, within the artificial intelligence semiconductor demonstration districts, regulatory exemptions will apply, thereby laying the groundwork for a rapid leap forward in the semiconductor sector, which is the most critical foundation of the AI industry.
Furthermore, the Global Future Special Zone is a core special provision applied only to Daegu-Gyeongbuk. Based on deregulation and administrative and financial support to attract large corporations, it can be seen as establishing the foundation for transforming the integrated new airport, the airport relocation site, ports, and new urban areas into an ultra-modern, future-oriented city where advanced industries, logistics, and tourism are combined.
In the field of urban development, the bill lays the groundwork for the rapid growth of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Special Metropolitan City by including measures such as: deemed approvals for permits and licenses to expedite development projects; the authority to request designation of areas subject to the price cap on pre-sale housing and of areas subject to adjustment; and special provisions for supporting infrastructure for new industrial complexes.
In the cultural sector, provisions were included for establishing a World Capital of Culture and Arts, delegating the authority to designate and change tourism special zones, supporting the development of infrastructure for culture and tourism, and delegating the authority to designate cultural industry promotion districts. Based on Daegu’s outstanding cultural assets such as musicals, opera, and the Kansong Art Museum, as well as Gyeongbuk’s cultural heritage, the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated Special Metropolitan City has been given an opportunity to expand globally through the fusion of history and culture.
In the education and talent sectors, the bill establishes a foundation for nurturing human resources by including measures such as implementing special admissions tracks for universities to select local talent in order to advance regional strategic industries, and supporting improvements to the educational environment to encourage outstanding talent to settle in the region.
Meanwhile, Daegu City plans to respond with full force so that the special provisions for supporting the relocation of the military airport, which were not reflected in the full session of the Public Administration and Security Committee, can be incorporated at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
Acting Daegu Mayor Kim Jeonggi stated, “Integration is an urgent choice that can no longer be postponed for the survival of the region and for balanced national growth,” adding, “Through the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integration Special Act bill, an institutional foundation has been established for regional economic growth and for the development of industry, culture, and human resources. We will do our utmost in responding at the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee and plenary session to ensure the smooth launch of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated Special Metropolitan City this coming July.”
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