"Local councils' opinions and local referendums are necessary"
On February 26, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Hyeongdong said of the special act on administrative integration of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province (the TK region), "This is not an issue that should be concluded in a rush," adding, "I oppose hasty handling of the bill and strongly demand a comprehensive reconsideration and a sufficiently thorough public discussion process."
That afternoon, at a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Hall, Assemblyman Kim stated, "Under the current Local Autonomy Act, when a local government is abolished, established, divided, or merged, it is clearly stipulated that the opinions of the relevant local councils must be heard or a local referendum must be held. However, the ongoing TK integration process does not faithfully reflect this legislative intent and these procedural requirements," explaining his position.
Previously, after deliberation on the TK integration bill was put on hold at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly, TK-area lawmakers from the People Power Party gathered at the National Assembly on the morning of the same day and held a vote for and against the bill. All 12 lawmakers from Daegu expressed support without a vote, while the 13 lawmakers from North Gyeongsang Province reached a consensus in favor after a closed ballot. However, it is reported that there were also dissenting votes, mainly from lawmakers representing northern North Gyeongsang, including Assemblyman Kim.
Assemblyman Kim pointed out, "The councils of Andong, Yecheon, Yeongju, Yeongyang, Uljin, and Bonghwa counties, as well as the Daegu Metropolitan Council, have all successively expressed their opposition," adding, "This clearly shows that concerns about the integration process are by no means just the voices of a few."
He went on to say, "The northern part of North Gyeongsang Province is already facing a complex crisis of population decline, aging, and weakening of its industrial base," and, "At a time when fears of regional extinction are becoming a reality, the integration debate is being perceived by residents in the northern region as a matter of survival."
Assemblyman Kim also said, "Concrete and accountable measures on how to institutionally guarantee balanced development must be presented," stressing, "Genuine discussions on integration are only possible within procedures that fully reflect the will of each and every provincial resident."
Speaking to reporters immediately after the briefing, Assemblyman Kim said, "Nothing has been made known about how the region will be governed and how administration will be carried out after TK integration and after the elections," adding, "Right now Daegu is an executive body, but North Gyeongsang Province does not have such a function. Even within our party there is little in-depth understanding of how this will be handled."
Regarding opinions in some quarters that the special act should first be passed and then revised later, he said, "That is irresponsible," and continued, "The party’s floor leadership has repeatedly said that (the administrative integration proposal) is a politically motivated initiative by the Democratic Party of Korea and therefore unacceptable, yet it is not even explaining why that position has not been maintained, which is deeply regrettable."
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