The legislative review for the special law to establish a Daegu-Gyeongbuk metropolitan city has been suspended by the National Assembly's Judiciary Committee, causing surprise and dismay among political leaders in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region, who had been collaboratively preparing for this administrative integration. The political response has been swift, with calls for immediate reconsideration and approval of the legislation while emphasizing the pressing need for integration to combat regional decline.

Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo took to social media to express urgency, stating that there is no time to let political disputes prevent the establishment of the integrated city and reaffirming his commitment to persuasively push for its approval. He highlighted that the Democratic Party had claimed that the halting of the review was due to opposing statements from the Daegu City Council, while the opposition claimed that it was due to their objections, emphasizing the need for collaboration in addressing serious regional challenges, including economic stagnation in Daegu and Gwangju.

The Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly echoed these sentiments in a statement expressing deep regret over the handling of the legislative process compared to the swift processing of a similar law for Jeonnam and Gwangju. Local lawmakers argued that the law represents a collective regional effort dating back to 2019 and called for immediate discussions and equitable treatment in the legislative process. They also dismissed allegations that the opposition party's leadership was behind the bill's suspension, calling for an end to what they described as baseless claims that distort the truth and confuse the public.