“Local Newspaper Gonggo Driving Out Centralism” Launch of Magazine ‘Jiyeoksahoe’

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The inaugural issue of the professional magazine "Jiyeoksahoe" (Local Community), which deeply analyzes regional issues and problems at universities and proposes solutions, has been published. This magazine is published twice a year by the Dongseo University Local Community Research Institute.

The Dongseo University Local Community Research Institute announced on the 22nd that it publishes this magazine to provide in-depth analysis and directions on regional issues and tasks, playing a role in driving regional development.

The inaugural issue focused intensively on the special feature on regional research (1-3). In Regional Research Special 1, under the theme "Busan's Urban Diplomacy - Towards a New Center," articles discussed the need to build sustainable diplomatic infrastructure accumulation, expand exchanges with major cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Qingdao, develop the 5 million population Busan-Fukuoka free trade city cross-border economic zone, extend to the Eurasian continent as a foothold for exchange and cooperation with the Russian Far East, and become a hub city of the New Southern Policy through a partnership of mutual prosperity.

Notably, contributors with nationwide recognition and extensive international experience, including Jang Je-guk, President of Dongseo University; Shin Jeong-seung, former Ambassador to China and Director of Dongseo University East Asia Research Institute; Jeong Gu-jong, former Tokyo bureau chief of Dong-A Ilbo and advisor to Dongseo University Japan Research Center; and Kim Young-sun, former Ambassador to Indonesia, participated in writing, elevating the magazine's prestige.

In Regional Research Special 2, under the theme "Talking about Busan Film & Film Festival," Kim Eun-young, editorial writer of Busan Ilbo who covered the Busan International Film Festival, and Kim Yong-sung, former executive director of Busan MBC and professor of Broadcasting and Visual Studies at Dongseo University, contributed articles demonstrating their expertise, attracting attention.

Regional Research Special 3, themed "Busan's Urban Regeneration Approached through Culture, Yeongdo," featured Jang Ji-tae, director of Dongseo University Local Community Research Institute and former editorial writer of Busan Ilbo, and Lee Seung-wook, CEO of Plan B Culture and Arts Cooperative, who reexamined Yeongdo's cultural value and proposed development plans.

Other contributors included Park Jae-yul, co-chairman of the National Conference for Local Autonomy; Oh Young-hwan, regional specialist reporter of JoongAng Ilbo; Kang Dong-su, CEO of Busan Cultural Foundation; Kim Ki-hong, professor of economics at Pusan National University; and Kim Young-hwan, chairman of the Korea Policy Contribution Institute, who wrote on topics such as "Issue Analysis: Diagnosis of Local Autonomy and National Balanced Development," "Analysis of the April 15 General Election," "Busan's Three-Color Religious Pilgrimage Route," "Greek Cruise Travel," and "Discussing Busan Culture."

The Dongseo University Local Community Research Institute distributes the magazine free of charge to donors who support the university development fund to encourage talent cultivation.

Jang Ji-tae, director of the Local Community Research Institute and overall editor of the inaugural issue of "Jiyeoksahoe," said, "In this land where centralism is prevailing, I hope this magazine will serve as a trustworthy mouthpiece conveying the voices of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam regions," adding, "Especially, we will discover and dissect local community issues and challenges to become a compass pointing in the right direction."