Governor Lee Cheol-woo’s Facebook message… I am sorry and regretful for causing concern to the citizens of the city: National Safety Newspaper

▲ Governor Lee Cheol-woo ©

Governor Lee Cheol-woo’s Facebook message… I am sorry and regretful for causing concern to the citizens of the city

I am sorry and regretful for causing concern to the citizens of the city and province.

However, the administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk must continue.

The Daegu-Gyeongbuk administrative integration is a national reform project that will solve the low birth rate and local extinction in Korea.

If Daegu and Gyeongbuk take the lead, other cities and provinces are preparing to follow suit.

There are difficulties in the great undertaking, but you must go all the way.

The difference between Gyeongsangbuk-do and Daegu-si is that the province has 22 cities and counties with real power, while the city of Daegu has 22 cities and counties with real power. Metropolitan cities have basic districts, but they have no real power and are effectively centered around Daegu City Hall.

It is a difference in philosophy and administrative methods, but I asked the central government to come up with a mediation plan. I think it will go well and I believe Daegu City will understand.

The core of integration is to strengthen local autonomy and secure finances by receiving central authority.

The opportunity to break away from the one-pole system of the metropolitan area and achieve groundbreaking balanced development of local regions should not be stopped by minor differences of opinion.

I proposed the administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk at the end of 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic hit right away, making it difficult to proceed.

In September of that year, the ‘Daegu-Gyeongbuk Administrative Integration Public Opinion Committee’ consisting of experts and city and provincial residents was launched and an integration plan was presented in May 2021.

Due to COVID-19 and elections, it was decided to proceed after 2022.

The project was halted after Hong Joon-pyo, the mayor of Daegu who was elected in the 2022 local elections, did not agree to the administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk, calling it “nonsense.”

Thanks to your suggestion to ‘promote integration’ again in May of this year, the train for administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk has started again.

Despite these twists and turns, we have been silently preparing and continuing to challenge ourselves.

Unlike four years ago, the government now has a positive will and all citizens of our city and province agree on the necessity.

You must do it without giving up

I will work hard with the citizens of the city and province until the end.

▲ Governor Lee Cheol-woo’s Facebook message… I am sorry and regretful for worrying the citizens of the city ©