Presiding Over the Department and Bureau Heads Meeting, Concerns Over Special Union Impact
Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, expressing his determination to promote administrative integration of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam at the Headquarters Directors' Meeting.
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] “I am not the mayor of Busan, but the governor of Gyeongnam Province. I cannot do anything that does not help the future development of Gyeongnam.”
On the 26th, Park Wan-su, governor of Gyeongnam Province, once again expressed his determination to promote the administrative integration of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) at the meeting of heads of departments and bureaus.
Governor Park criticized, “The former governors and the Democratic Party of Korea initially advocated integration, and the Special Union came afterward. Their opposition to integration is self-contradictory.”
He added, “We need to examine whether the Special Union is beneficial from Gyeongnam’s perspective,” and said, “This is a duty to the residents who chose me as the governor of Gyeongnam.”
Governor Park expressed concern that the scope of work of the Special Union is limited to some joint tasks of Bu-Ul-Gyeong, concentrating benefits on areas adjacent to Busan and Ulsan.
He also pointed out that without a fundamental financial base for the Special Union, it could take on tasks, incurring an annual operating cost burden of more than 16 billion KRW and requiring the deployment of about 150 public officials.
Governor Park said, “I question how much it would help residents to create another institution called the Special Union in addition to existing organizations like the Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority for joint work between cities and provinces.”
He continued, “If one head of the organization promotes policies through Bu-Ul-Gyeong integration, it could disperse the effects of regional development and achieve balanced development,” and stated, “I will communicate with residents about integration going forward.”
At the meeting, Governor Park also mentioned Gyeongnam’s economic decline and the decrease in personal income.
“Over the past five years, Gyeongnam has been excluded from government support in hydrogen industry and urban air mobility, and the nuclear phase-out policy has dealt a severe blow to local industries. Fortunately, the new government is striving to restore the nuclear ecosystem, including the aerospace industry and the establishment of a satellite-specialized complex,” he said.
Regarding the Aerospace Administration to be established in Sacheon, he said he had spoken with the Presidential Chief of Staff last week.
Governor Park emphasized, “The President remains committed to establishing the Aerospace Administration and is preparing by creating a temporary organization. A government-level roadmap will be announced, and efforts are needed at the provincial level to coordinate with Sacheon City and prepare without setbacks according to the government announcement.”
Governor Park ordered that the administrative complaint processing time for regulatory administration be reduced as much as possible based on the law.
Also, although the outdoor mask-wearing mandate was lifted and changed to a recommendation from today according to the Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s announcement, he instructed to sufficiently prepare facility beds and other resources in case of a COVID-19 emergency.
On this day, Governor Park called ‘education’ the area of greatest interest to residents.
He said, “Please pay active attention in consultation with the Office of Education to meet residents’ expectations,” and added, “It is important to discuss with the Provincial Council regularly, provide information in advance, and listen to opinions, so please make efforts to build consensus with the Provincial Council.”
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