[Provided by North Gyeongsang Province]
[Provided by North Gyeongsang Province]

Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province have launched a coordinated campaign to pass the special bill on the Daegu-North Gyeongsang administrative merger during the regular National Assembly session, with the legislation currently pending before the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

The two local governments held the inaugural meeting of the Daegu-North Gyeongsang Administrative Integration Promotion Team at the North Gyeongsang Provincial Office on Monday afternoon, discussing specific strategies to secure the bill's passage in the regular session.

Earlier, Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho and North Gyeongsang Governor Lee Chul-woo agreed at a July meeting to join forces for passage of the special bill in the September regular session. They also elevated the promotion team's leadership from the planning and coordination directors of the city and province to a co-leadership structure headed by the deputy mayor for administration and the deputy governor for administration.

Monday's meeting was attended by about 20 people, including the team's co-chairs — Kim Jeong-gi, Daegu's deputy mayor for administration, and Hwang Myeong-seok, North Gyeongsang's deputy governor for administration — along with heads of departments involved in the merger.

The city and province agreed to first align their positions and speak with one voice to build a persuasive case for the National Assembly.

They plan to jointly prepare explanatory materials on the merger to lobby members and expert advisers of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, with the aim of getting the bill placed on the committee's agenda and passed.

They also shared the view that amendments to the supplementary provisions of the special bill are essential to meet the 2028 target for launching the integrated special city, and discussed related measures.

The two sides also coordinated schedules for a joint session of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Assembly members and a second meeting between the mayor and the governor.

North Gyeongsang Province visited the National Assembly on Wednesday and urged Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair Seo Yeong-gyo to expedite the review and passage of the pending special bill.

A commissioned study is also underway to analyze key issues and challenges surrounding the administrative merger and sharpen the arguments for addressing them.

The city and province view the September regular session as a critical turning point for the merger drive. They plan to continuously explain the need for the legislation to committee members, ruling and opposition party leadership, and local lawmakers, while actively engaging in the bill review process.

"When residents of the city and province speak with one voice, that is what generates the momentum to pass the bill," said Kim Jeong-gi, Daegu's deputy mayor for administration. "We will work to see the bill passed within the year, drawing on that unified strength."

"Administrative integration is a crucial task for overcoming regional depopulation and achieving balanced national development," said Hwang Myeong-seok, North Gyeongsang's deputy governor for administration. "We will pass the special bill within the regular session so that the integrated special city can launch without delay in July 2028."


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com