Daegu Mayor, Gyeongbuk Governor Meet on Integration, New Airport
In short
Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho and Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo met on October 6 to discuss administrative integration and a joint new airport. The meeting included the chairs of both councils and ended with a planned joint agreement. The agreement reportedly pushes for legal changes to launch an integrated special city by 2028.
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Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho and Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo met on October 6 in Daegu to discuss regional issues including administrative integration and the construction of an integrated new airport, according to Yonhap. The meeting was a return visit after Choo visited Gyeongbuk Province in August. [ 1 ]
The meeting was also attended by Daegu City Council Chairman Lim In-hwan and Gyeongbuk Provincial Council Chairman Kim Hee-soo, Yonhap reported. The Seoul Shinmun headline said the city and provincial councils added their support to the cooperation. [ 1 , 2 ]
The agenda included stalled Daegu-Gyeongbuk administrative integration, the integrated new airport, relocation of second public institutions, cooperation on a super-wide living and economic zone, and measures to address a reduction in local allocation taxes due to a proposed future response fund, according to Yonhap. After the meeting, the leaders planned to sign a joint agreement on mutual prosperity and cooperation. [ 1 ]
The joint agreement reportedly focuses on joint responses for legal revisions needed to launch an integrated special city by 2028 and to build the integrated new airport, Yonhap reported. The two leaders had previously agreed in late July, after the 9th local elections, that administrative integration should take priority for resolving issues such as the new airport and attracting second public institutions. They later launched a “Daegu-Gyeongbuk Administrative Integration Promotion Team” with the 2028 goal. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The meeting signals a renewed effort to merge Daegu and Gyeongbuk into a single administrative region, which would redraw local governance and could accelerate infrastructure projects like the new airport. However, the two sides have yet to overcome stalled progress, and the agreement is only a step toward required legislation.
Key facts
- Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho and Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo met on October 6 in Daegu. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The meeting was a return visit after Choo visited Gyeongbuk Province in August. [ 1 ]
- Daegu City Council Chairman Lim In-hwan and Gyeongbuk Provincial Council Chairman Kim Hee-soo attended. [ 1 ]
- The agenda included administrative integration, the integrated new airport, relocation of second public institutions, super-wide cooperation, and measures for a local allocation tax reduction. [ 1 ]
- The leaders planned to sign a joint agreement on mutual prosperity and cooperation. [ 1 ]
- The agreement reportedly focuses on joint responses for legal revisions to launch an integrated special city by 2028 and build the new airport. [ 1 ]
- After their first official meeting in late July, the two sides launched the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Administrative Integration Promotion Team. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the joint agreement was actually signed and its full contents. Only Yonhap reported the signing plan and said the contents were “reported”, with no second source confirming the signing or details.
- Specific measures for the local allocation tax reduction and the relocation of second public institutions. These were listed as agenda items but no details or outcomes were provided in the documents.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap reports that Daegu Mayor Choo and Gyeongbuk Governor Lee will meet today to discuss administrative integration and other issues. [ 1 ]
- Seoul Shinmun reports that the two leaders have restarted cooperation on administrative integration and the new airport, with city and provincial councils adding support. [ 2 ]