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South Korea’s Assembly Moves Toward City‑Province Merger Vote Before June Elections

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  • The parliamentary public administration and security committee reviews special bills on merging metropolitan cities and provinces during a plenary session at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 12, 2026. (Yonhap)
    The parliamentary public administration and security committee reviews special bills on merging metropolitan cities and provinces during a plenary session at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 12, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    The parliamentary public administration and security committee reviews special bills on merging metropolitan cities and provinces during a plenary session at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 12, 2026. (Yonhap) Source Full size

Committee Clearance Clears Final Procedural Hurdle The public administration and security committee approved the four merger bills in a plenary session on Thursday, eliminating the last obstacle before a full Assembly vote later this month[1]. Lawmakers praised the swift passage, noting that the committee’s endorsement triggers the floor‑level debate scheduled before the end of February[1]. The approval reflects the ruling Democratic Party’s control of the committee and its agenda to reshape local governance[1].

Four City‑Province Pairings Targeted for Integration Draft legislation proposes merging Daegu with North Gyeongsang Province, Busan with South Gyeongsang Province, Gwangju with South Jeolla Province, and Daejeon with South Chungcheong Province into single special cities[1]. The mergers would create new local governments that elect governors in the June 3 2026 local elections, effectively replacing current mayor‑province structures[1]. Each integrated entity would assume expanded jurisdiction over planning, transportation, and fiscal policy[1].

Democratic Party Promises February Passage The ruling Democratic Party, holding a parliamentary majority, announced it will push for a majority vote by the end of February[1]. Party leaders argue the reforms are essential for balanced regional development and for strengthening the party’s electoral prospects in the upcoming local polls[1]. Opposition members have raised concerns about the speed of the process but have not blocked the committee’s recommendation[1].

Financial Incentives and Administrative Upgrades Detailed The proposal allocates up to 20 trillion won (≈US$13.6 billion) to each merged special city over four years, intended to fund infrastructure and integration costs[1]. It also doubles the number of deputy heads to four and elevates those positions to vice‑ministerial rank, expanding the bureaucratic capacity of the new jurisdictions[1]. Critics note the substantial budgetary impact, while supporters claim the investment will spur regional competitiveness[1].

Sources

Timeline

Dec 5, 2025 – President Lee Jae Myung tells a town‑hall in Cheonan that “balanced regional growth is a ‘survival strategy’ for the Republic of Korea,” warns that Seoul’s concentration “severely undermines broader national growth,” and calls for relocating government agencies and building an administrative capital to curb soaring housing prices and political conflicts, including a proposed Daejeon‑South Chungcheong integration[8].

Dec 7, 2025 – Lee receives a policy briefing from the Presidential Committee for Decentralization and Balanced Development on a five‑regional‑hub plan (Seoul metro, southeast, northeast, central, western) and three special self‑governing provinces (Jeju, Gangwon, North Jeolla), reaffirming his pledge to ease capital‑area overconcentration[7].

Dec 8, 2025 – At a presidential office briefing, Lee argues that “balanced regional development is essential to South Korea’s sustainable growth,” criticises past resource allocation to Seoul, outlines the same hub‑and‑province framework, and schedules follow‑up sessions with ministries beginning Thursday[6].

Dec 18, 2025 – Lee proposes merging Daejeon with South Chungcheong Province ahead of the June 2026 local elections, urges lawmakers to advance legislation, and promises central administrative support for the integrated region’s governor election, while noting the opposition People Power Party’s separate integration bill[5].

Dec 21, 2025 – In a luncheon with Democratic Party lawmakers, Lee reiterates the Daejeon‑South Chungcheong merger as the “starting point” for his broader “five hubs, three special regions” strategy; a high‑level ruling party‑government meeting discusses enacting a special law to formalise the merger, despite Korea’s historical lack of any metropolitan‑province integration[4].

Jan 16, 2026 – The government announces up to 20 trillion won (capped at 5 trillion won per year) in four‑year aid for each future merged city, grants Seoul‑like status with four deputy heads of vice‑ministerial rank, sets 2027 as the start of public‑institution relocation to merged regions, and Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok says “balanced development is a necessity for the country’s long‑term survival”[3].

Jan 23, 2026 – Lee urges public backing in Ulsan, declaring the city “should lead the AI transformation by leveraging its manufacturing base” and highlighting SK Group’s plan with Amazon Web Services to build the nation’s largest AI data center there, linking the AI push to his regional‑hub investment strategy[2].

Feb 16, 2026 – The National Assembly’s public administration and security committee clears four merger bills (Daegu‑North Gyeongsang, Busan‑South Gyeongsang, Gwangju‑South Jeolla, Daejeon‑South Chungcheong); the ruling Democratic Party pledges to pass them by month‑end so that “new governors can be elected” before the June 3 local elections, with each integrated city slated to receive up to 20 trillion won over four years[1].

June 3, 2026 (planned) – Voters elect the first governors of the newly integrated jurisdictions, completing the merger process that began with legislative approval earlier in 2026[1].

2027 (planned) – The government begins relocating a batch of public institutions to the merged regions, offering subsidies, rent reductions and tax exemptions to attract businesses and reinforce the new regional hubs[3].

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