Gyeongsangbuk-do announces local sovereignty plan for regional autonomy

Gyeongsangbuk-do has announced a comprehensive 'Local Sovereignty Completion Basic Plan' to transition from a recipient of central government policies to a proactive designer of regional administration, industry, and talent strategies. The initiative aims to move beyond traditional decentralization by securing practical self-determination over authority and finances.

The plan is built upon four strategic pillars: autonomy, growth, living, and talent. Key objectives include the administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do by 2028, the establishment of a 'Gyeongsangbuk-do type basic society' to address low birth rates through expanded care services, and the creation of a regional talent circulation system via AI and digital education.

By 2030, the province aims to increase the combined Daegu-Gyeongsangbuk-do population to 5 million and raise the average annual Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth rate to 3%. The strategy also focuses on industrial connectivity in sectors such as mobility, semiconductors, secondary batteries, and AI to combat youth outflow and regional decline.