Daegu, North Gyeongsang hold strategy forum on attracting public institutions

Daegu city and North Gyeongsang Province held their second public institution relocation strategy forum at the National Assembly on Thursday, with local lawmakers in attendance.

Co-hosted by the People Power Party's Daegu and North Gyeongsang provincial chapters, the forum opened with remarks from the PPP's city and provincial chapter chairs, North Gyeongsang Vice Governor for Economic Affairs Yang Geum-hee and Daegu Administrative Vice Mayor Kim Jeong-gi, followed by an exchange of views among lawmakers and participants on the direction of the second round of public institution relocations.

PPP North Gyeongsang chapter chair Kim Hyeong-dong said in his opening remarks that "there are more than enough reasons for public institutions to come to Daegu and North Gyeongsang," adding that North Gyeongsang in particular has the potential for future industries — including an advanced manufacturing innovation belt, a smart logistics belt and an agritech belt — along with the infrastructure to support them.

PPP Daegu chapter chair Lee In-seon said the relocation of public institutions "must be pursued fairly under clear and objective criteria, free from any political considerations or regional horse-trading."

Administrative Vice Mayor Kim said Daegu and North Gyeongsang had established a differentiated development strategy linking specialized industries — AI, robotics, mobility and healthcare — with nationally designated demonstration facilities such as Suseong Alpha City and the National Robot Test Field, as well as the institutions slated for relocation.

Vice Governor Yang said North Gyeongsang and Daegu are "the optimal destination for the second round of public institution relocations," citing the region's largest core industrial infrastructure in South Korea — spanning semiconductors, robotics, nuclear energy, forestry, agriculture and culture — as well as global transport links including the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport and Yeongil Bay Port.

After the forum, participants adopted a resolution urging the government to pursue the second round of public institution relocations fairly and without delay.

In the resolution, Daegu and North Gyeongsang lawmakers said residents of both regions had expected the current administration to boldly redistribute infrastructure and resources concentrated in the greater Seoul area to the regions, laying the groundwork for self-sustaining growth. They said the government's recent handling of major policy initiatives — including the Daegu-North Gyeongsang administrative merger and the three mega-projects — had turned those hopes into deep concern.

The lawmakers warned that a growing sense of crisis had taken hold that Daegu and North Gyeongsang may again be left out of the second round of relocations. They urged the government to ensure rational and fair placement of institutions, swiftly establish clear criteria and a roadmap, and assign institutions in line with each region's strategic industries.