Lee Jangwoo Says Legislation and Judiciary Committee's Reserved Opinion on Daejeon?South Chungcheong Administrative Integration Was "a Very Good Decision"

"Integration Is Only Possible When a Bill Guarantees Permanent Fiscal Support and Authority Over Personnel, Projects, and Organizational Structure"

Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon (Photo by Mo Seokbong)

Daejeon Mayor Lee Jangwoo commented on the fact that, on the 24th, the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee issued a reserved opinion on the special act for the administrative integration of Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province, saying, "With a bill led by the Democratic Party, the region cannot compete with the Seoul metropolitan area," and added, "In that sense, today's reserved opinion by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee was a very good decision."

Mayor Lee stated, "If we do not properly establish the basic framework of local autonomy when dealing with the issue of administrative integration for the centennial future of the Republic of Korea, the country is likely to fall into extreme confusion," and continued, "Therefore, integration is only possible when we create a bill that guarantees fiscal authority and autonomy that Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province themselves can exercise in their own region."

He went on to say, "I believe the bill led by the Democratic Party completely crushes this," and added, "Going forward, the issue of integrating Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province will only be possible when we sufficiently gather the opinions of city and provincial residents, and furthermore, when we create a bill that guarantees permanent fiscal support and authority over personnel, projects, and organizational structure. More thorough discussion is needed in the future."

Regarding the Democratic Party's claim that the bill failed to pass because of the People Power Party, Mayor Lee said, "That is utter nonsense. We must create a good bill and pass it; passing a bill that is not properly drafted can only lead to misfortune for city and provincial residents," and sharply criticized, "That is a distortion, and it is essentially shirking their own responsibility for failing to properly draft this bill."

He also addressed public opinion that the upcoming local elections are the right time to push ahead with the integration bill and the election of an integrated mayor, and that if it is not done now, it may never be done, stating, "Local autonomy in the Republic of Korea is not an issue that can be resolved in a few short months; it requires a national consensus and the collection of public opinion," and emphasized, "It only becomes possible when expert advice is sought and a proper bill is drafted and reflected. If integration is pushed through in such a hasty manner, it will inevitably lead to extreme confusion and cause harm to the public."