The National Assembly is pushing for administrative integration of metropolitan local governments ahead of the local elections in June. The Democratic Party of Korea put forward plans to merge South Chungcheong with Daejeon and South Jeolla with Gwangju, while the People Power Party proposed integrating Daegu and North Gyeongsang. If the special administrative integration bills introduced by the two parties clear the National Assembly's plenary by March, this election could also choose a "special integrated mayor."
On the morning of the 30th, the Democratic Party submitted as its party line the South Chungcheong–Daejeon Special Integration Bill and the South Jeolla–Gwangju Special Integration Bill, prepared by the Special Committee on Daejeon–South Chungcheong Integration and Chungcheong Development and the Special Committee on Promoting Gwangju–South Jeolla Administrative Integration. The bills contain numerous special provisions to be applied to the special integrated cities.
Earlier, the government announced a plan to provide up to 5 trillion won a year, or up to 20 trillion won over four years, in fiscal support for special integrated cities. The special integrated cities would be given a status and standing comparable to Seoul, including expanding the number of deputy heads to four and elevating their ranks to Vice Minister level.
After filing the bills with the National Assembly's bill office that day, Chun Jun-ho, the Democratic Party's senior deputy floor leader for operations, told reporters, "The bills were drafted with the aim of overcoming the single-pole system centered on Seoul and the capital area, creating regional growth axes to promote genuine decentralization and local fiscal independence, and facilitating balanced national development," and added, "During the bill review process, we will further consult with the government side and refine the details."
On the same day, the People Power Party introduced a bill to integrate Daegu and North Gyeongsang. Representative Koo Ja-geun, head of the party's North Gyeongsang provincial chapter, and Representative Lee In-seon, head of the Daegu city chapter, submitted to the National Assembly's bill office the Special Act on Establishing the Daegu–North Gyeongsang Special City and Creating a Central Axis for a New Korean Peninsula Economy (Daegu–North Gyeongsang Special Integration Act).
Representative Koo Ja-geun said, "We will rally political forces in the region so that the special act can accommodate many of Daegu and North Gyeongsang's demands, such as delegation of central government authority and special provisions," adding, "Concerns in northern North Gyeongsang are reflected in many areas, including fiscal support, government complex locations, and the transfer of public institutions, and we will work to ensure they are reflected as much as possible in negotiations with the government."