Seoul: The passage of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Administrative Integration Act through the National Assembly on March 1, led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), was expected to be a significant step toward regional reform. However, it has instead revealed a scene of partisan maneuvering.

According to Yonhap News Agency, companion bills for the merging of Daegu-North Gyeongsang Province, known as TK, and South Chungcheong Province-Daejeon were set aside after prolonged disagreements between the DPK and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). Both parties accused each other of opportunism while engaging in it themselves. The key issue was the TK integration bill, which the PPP initially opposed due to local dissent but later supported after facing criticism in the TK region. With local elections approaching in June, PPP leaders feared that wavering on integration could harm their electoral prospects in the conservative stronghold, prompting them to halt a planned filibuster and officially support TK integration.

The DPK, rather than fostering consensus, demanded a public apology from the PPP for its previous indecision and an official commitment to support the South Chungcheong-Daejeon integration bill. The insistence on proceeding with integration as a set has been seen as political brinkmanship. Administrative integration is a national strategy to address structural imbalances where the capital region dominates economic opportunities and public investment, leaving provinces outside the Seoul metropolitan area struggling with demographic decline and shrinking tax bases.

The idea of integration was not initiated by a single party. Even before President Lee Jae Myung's comments in December accelerated the discussion, governors and mayors affiliated with the PPP expressed their intent to pursue mergers and introduce special legislation. The South Chungcheong-Daejeon case exemplifies the complexity of the issue, as local leaders and lawmakers remain divided, with public opinion not uniformly supportive. However, national parties must lead regardless of regional disagreements. If only South Jeolla-Gwangju proceeds with forming a new metropolitan entity, accusations of regional favoritism will arise, especially given the significant fiscal support promised to integrated cities.

Time is critical, as enabling laws must be promulgated by mid-April for integrated special cities to elect leaders in the June 3 local elections. Further delay risks administrative confusion and erodes public confidence. Passing the bills together during the current parliamentary session would provide clarity and allow preparatory procedures to commence.

Both parties need to address their shortcomings. The PPP's earlier vacillation due to electoral concerns and internal divisions has damaged its credibility. The DPK's increasing demands risk appearing as attempts to corner a weakened opponent. The public perceives little difference between a party that hesitates for political gain and one that exploits that hesitation.

Administrative integration is intended to prevent regional decline and rebalance national development, requiring steadiness, foresight, and cooperation across party lines. The National Assembly should rise above tactical calculations and complete its legislative task promptly. The stakes are beyond political advantage; they concern the future structure of the nation itself.