Ruling and opposition parties failed to bring the Daegu-North Gyeongsang administrative integration special bill to a National Assembly plenary session on the 12th. With the deadline that political circles viewed as the last chance now missed, both the Daegu-North Gyeongsang and Chungnam-Daejeon mergers appear unlikely to proceed before the June 3 local elections.
Cheon Jun-ho, senior deputy floor leader for floor operations of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Yoo Sang-beom, his counterpart from the People Power Party, met at the National Assembly on the 10th. They agreed to hold a plenary session on the 12th and discussed agenda items.
After the meeting, Yoo told reporters, "We strongly requested the passage of the TK (Daegu-North Gyeongsang) integration bill, but the Democratic Party showed no change in its existing position. It appears difficult for the bill to be processed."
The Democratic Party maintains that it cannot accept the Daegu-North Gyeongsang integration unless the People Power Party agrees to the Chungnam-Daejeon merger.
The failed negotiations have effectively made pre-election integration for both regions impossible. Some in political circles suggest that additional talks and passage this month could still enable the mergers through accelerated administrative work. However, given the wide gaps between parties and within regions themselves, narrowing differences in the remaining time appears difficult.
Local opposition in Chungnam-Daejeon is stronger than in Daegu-North Gyeongsang. A key ruling party official said, "We believe this has effectively collapsed because the People Power Party failed to calm opposition sentiment in the North Gyeongsang region. We also judge Chungnam-Daejeon will be difficult."
Consequently, among the three regions pursuing administrative integration, only the Jeonnam-Gwangju unified special city mayoral election is expected to proceed in the upcoming local elections.
The ruling and opposition parties agreed to prioritize the U.S. Investment Special Act at the plenary session on the 12th. This comes 106 days after then-Democratic Party floor leader Kim Byung-ki first introduced the bill last November. The special act establishes the Korea-U.S. Strategic Investment Corporation and creates a risk management committee to implement $350 billion in U.S. investments.
The parties also plan to pass approximately 60 non-contentious livelihood bills at the plenary session. Specific legislation will be discussed later. Bills expected for passage include the Essential Medical Care Act, which was delayed due to filibuster proceedings and provides concentrated support for essential healthcare, and the Jeonse Fraud Victims Act supporting lease fraud victims.
Democratic Party lawmaker Jin Sung-joon will be nominated to fill the vacant Budget and Accounts Special Committee chairmanship. This move is interpreted as the National Assembly preparing for a potential supplementary budget, following President Lee Jae-myung's indication of readiness to compile additional funds in response to Middle East developments.