[KBS Cheongju] [Anchor]
Four cities and provinces in the Chungcheong region are set to launch a metropolitan union tomorrow, aiming to establish a single economic living area comparable to the capital region. Today, a day ahead, the union assembly has been inaugurated. However, a controversy over the original composition has arisen, leading to a series of resignations among assembly members, indicating potential fissures.
Reporter Jeong Jin-gyu reports.
[Report]
The Chungcheong Metropolitan Union Assembly, consisting of councilors from four cities and provinces in the Chungcheong region, agreed on the original composition for the union assembly at the end of October. The intention was to distribute leadership positions, including the assembly chairmanship and committee heads, evenly among the four regions to prevent regional conflicts. However, the anonymous voting results on the day of the temporary session were completely different from the agreed plan. The chairmanship went to North Chungcheong instead of South Chungcheong, and the two vice-chairman positions were taken by Sejong and South Chungcheong instead of North Chungcheong and Daejeon.
[Noh Geum-sik/Chungcheong Metropolitan Union Assembly Chair/North Chungcheong: “(The union assembly) has a lot to prepare for and many tasks ahead, which may have led to the change in council members’ decisions….”]
Eventually, North Chungcheong Do councilor Lee Ok-gyu, along with three councilors from South Chungcheong and Daejeon, expressed their intention to resign, arguing that the union assembly, without kept promises, is meaningless.
[Kim Bok-man/Chungcheong Metropolitan Union Council Member/South Chungcheong: “Does this make sense? Promises should be kept, don’t they? I can’t participate in a metropolitan union assembly without trust.”]
[Park Jong-seon/Chungcheong Metropolitan Union Council Member/Daejeon: “The interests of Daejeon, South Chungcheong, North Chungcheong, and Sejong can all differ, leading to constant bickering and conflicts, which I believe is predictable.”]
Chungbuk Governor Kim Young-hwan was elected as the inaugural metropolitan union leader, running unopposed, but only received 11 votes of support from the 16 union council members, indicating continued division.
[Kim Young-hwan/Chungcheong Metropolitan Union Leader/Chungbuk Governor: “(Inter-regional conflicts) should be sufficiently discussed, and I’m determined to guide the process with thorough representation and dialogue.”]
The Chungcheong Metropolitan Union, which prioritizes the cooperative efforts of four cities and provinces to counterbalance the capital-centric development, takes its first step burdened with the tasks of restoring trust and resolving regional conflicts.
This is KBS News Jeong Jin-gyu.
Cameraman: Kim Hyun-gi / Graphics: Choi Yoon-woo