[AKYUNG Poll] 28.3% of Busan's Urgent Issues Are 'Job Creation'

Busan Citizens' Response to 'Urgent Policy Issues':
28.3% Choose Job Creation
Followed by Real Estate Market Stabilization and Gadeokdo New Airport Promotion

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Citizens of Busan identified 'job creation' and 'stabilization of the real estate market' as the most urgent policy issues.

In a public opinion survey conducted by Asia Economy through Winzi Korea Consulting on 1,018 voters residing in Busan from the 20th to 21st, the question about the most urgent policy issue showed that the highest number of respondents chose 'job creation' (28.3%).

Respondents who viewed stabilization of the real estate market as an 'urgent issue' accounted for 18.0%, followed by the promotion of the Gadeokdo New Airport at 17.9%, and response to infectious diseases such as COVID-19 at 11.9%. Other issues included support measures for self-employed and small business owners (10.5%), resolving the gap between East and West Busan (4.9%), construction of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam metropolitan railroad network (3.7%), and promotion of the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel construction (1.8%).

There were subtle differences by age group. Among those aged 18-29, 36.7% responded that job creation is the most urgent issue in the Busan area, while those aged 70 and above had the lowest at 19.8%. In their 30s and 50s, 30.3% prioritized job creation, 27.0% in their 40s, and 25% in their 60s.

Respondents who identified the real estate market as the most important issue were highest among those in their 30s and 40s (20.2%), followed by 18-29 (18.9%), 70 and above (18.5%), 50s (16.1%), and 60s (15.1%). By region, respondents who answered that 'stabilization of the real estate market is the most urgent' were highest in East Busan (21.9%), followed by North Busan (17.5%), West Busan (16.4%), and Central Busan (15.4%).

The highest number of respondents who chose 'promotion of the Gadeokdo New Airport' as the top priority were those aged 70 and above (25.2%), followed by those in their 50s (18.8%), 40s and 60s (18.4%), 30s (16.5%), and 18-29 (10.9%).

This survey was conducted from the 20th to 21st targeting voters aged 18 and above residing in Busan Metropolitan City, with an overall response rate of 11.8%, totaling 1,018 respondents. The survey method was wireless ARS using 100% mobile phone virtual numbers. The sample was extracted by applying weighted values (cell weighting) by gender, age, and region based on the resident registration population as of the end of January 2021 from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The sampling error is ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. For detailed survey information, refer to the Winzi Korea Consulting website or the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.