Special Acts for Local Administrative Integration Rapidly Introduced... Aiming for National Assembly Passage Next Month

People Power Party Submits Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integration Bill
Comprehensive Act with 335 Articles
Democratic Party Set to Propose Special Acts for Daejeon-Chungnam and Gwangju-Jeonnam

As special acts for local administrative integration are being rapidly introduced in the National Assembly, the pace of integration is accelerating. On the morning of the 30th, Koo Jageun, head of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Chapter of the People Power Party, and Lee Inseon, head of the Daegu City Chapter of the People Power Party, submitted the Special Act on Administrative Integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk to the National Assembly Secretariat.

Lee Inseon and Koo Ja-geun, members of the People Power Party, are submitting the Special Act on Administrative Integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk to the National Assembly Secretariat in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 30th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

This large-scale special act, consisting of a total of 335 articles, includes 319 special provisions aimed at realizing substantial local autonomy. These provisions cover national-level balanced development support measures for underdeveloped areas such as northern Gyeongbuk, regulations for administrative-centered development of the new provincial government city, the transfer of central government authority and expansion of financial support, and the strengthening of authority and autonomy for cities, counties, and districts. The act provides the basis for autonomy and national support across all sectors, including finance, industry, urban development, transportation, environment, education, and organization.

The special act aims to pass the National Assembly in February. It will undergo consultations with central government ministries, review by the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee, feedback from the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and a final vote in the plenary session.

The Democratic Party of Korea also plans to introduce, possibly on the same day, special acts for the administrative integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam, as well as Daejeon and Chungnam, as official party policy. The Democratic Party’s bills grant the two metropolitan cities status and autonomy, as well as fiscal decentralization, equivalent to that of Seoul Special City.

Once the special acts are introduced, the process will move through the Public Administration and Security Committee’s subcommittee, public hearings, a full committee meeting, and then to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The Democratic Party aims to pass the two special acts in the plenary session before the Lunar New Year holiday if possible, or at the latest by the end of next month.

If the acts are passed, mayors of the integrated cities will be elected in the June 3 local elections. The ultimate goal is to launch the integrated cities on July 1.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.