The launch of the first special local government, the Chungcheong-do Federation..."Enhance competitiveness".

[Anchor]
As the first special local government in the country, the Chungcheong Metropolitan Union, which is a group of four cities and provinces in the Chungcheong region, has officially been launched.

It is expected to become a cornerstone of balanced national development through cooperation in the ultra-wide area amid the local extinction crisis, but there are still many tasks to be solved.

This is reporter Lee Sang-gon.

[Reporter]
The Chungcheong Metropolitan Union, a special local government that united Daejeon and Sejong, Chungnam and Chungbuk, has set an anchor.

The goal is to strengthen regional competitiveness by making the Chungcheong area a single economic and living area to solve problems such as population decline due to centralization of the metropolitan area.

This is the first time a special local government has been launched since the related system was implemented in 2022.

[Kim Young-hwan / 'Chungcheong Alliance' (Chungbuk Governor): We intend to take the lead in solving common tasks, especially in ensuring that the central government's support, including the budget, is concentrated in Chungcheong.]

The official work of the Chungcheong Provincial Union will begin on the 31st.

We will first push for 21 tasks that are difficult for a single city and province to respond to, such as the establishment of a transportation network in the metropolitan area, fostering a joint strategic industry, and establishing and operating a metropolitan express bus system.

To this end, two offices were created, and 60 government officials were dispatched from four cities and provinces in the Chungcheong region.

The necessary expenses will include contributions from four cities and provinces, business income, and national subsidies.

[Kim Tae-heum / Governor of Chungcheongnam-do: It is believed that it will become a central point for the balanced national development of the Republic of Korea. I think we need to speak out more to solve the current issues in Chungcheong.

[Lee Jang-woo / Daejeon Mayor: There should be no restriction on any agenda for the development of the whole Chungcheong area. So it is my position that any agenda can be discussed together for the development of Chungcheong-do.

However, there are still many tasks to be solved.

Earlier, in the process of selecting the chairman of the Union Assembly, lawmakers fought for seats and left a stain from the beginning.

In addition, administrative integration and how local governments can narrow their differences due to different interests in various projects are expected to be a watershed in success.

I'm YTN's Lee Sanggon.

Reporter for filming
: Kwon Minho