Gyeongnam Province Basic Local Governments Declare Support for 'Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration' Relay

Sacheon, Uiryeong, Jinju, Haman, Geochang, and Hamyang, etc.

From the left, Park Dongsik, Mayor of Sacheon; Oh Taewan, County Governor of Uiryeong; Jo Gyu-il, Mayor of Jinju; Jo Geunje, County Governor of Haman; Gu Inmo, County Governor of Geochang; Jin Byeongyeong, County Governor of Hamyang.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Basic local governments in Gyeongnam Province are increasingly expressing support for the administrative integration plan proposed by the province as an alternative to the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) Special Union.

On the afternoon of the 26th, Park Dongsik, Mayor of Sacheon City, held a press conference and said, “If Bu-Ul-Gyeong is born with competitiveness equal to that of the metropolitan area through administrative integration, I am confident that Sacheon City, the center of South Korea’s aerospace industry, will definitely benefit greatly,” adding, “I hope that administrative integration will be realized so that our city and South Korea can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s aerospace powers.”

Mayor Park supported the administrative integration plan by citing ▲ the limitations of joint work processing methods among the three cities and provinces ▲ the absence of separate authority and financial support differentiated from existing cities and provinces ▲ concerns about neglect and underdevelopment of regions other than the two or three areas adjacent to Busan and Ulsan ▲ and the acceleration of concentration in Busan, which is rich in physical and human resources related to advanced industries and R&D, negatively affecting Gyeongnam’s 4th industrial revolution competitiveness.

On the same day, Oh Taewan, County Governor of Uiryeong, stated, “Putting aside the institutional limitations of the Special Union, the acceleration of local extinction in rural counties like ours is obvious,” and argued, “The plan to revitalize regions by concentrating investment in metropolitan cities and some large cities disregards the capabilities of county-level local governments like Uiryeong.”

He continued, “The current Bu-Ul-Gyeong Special Union is a megacity project that was pushed forward unilaterally during the previous administration without considering the opinions of mayors, county governors, or even residents,” and said, “I expect Governor Park Wansu’s administration to wisely find answers through a well-structured administrative integration plan that addresses population decline and regional extinction risks.”

On the same day, Cho Gyuil, Mayor of Jinju City, also agreed with the promotion of Bu-Ul-Gyeong administrative integration.

Mayor Cho said, “While I agree with the fundamental purpose of creating a megacity to respond to the metropolitan area’s unipolar system, most of the joint projects planned with Busan and Ulsan are concentrated in eastern Gyeongnam.”

He added, “If administrative integration is achieved, it will be possible to focus administrative and financial capabilities to attract active national support by making the eastern Gyeongnam region, powered by Busan’s infrastructure such as finance, ports, and human resources, and Ulsan’s traditional manufacturing base like heavy industry, one axis, and the western Gyeongnam region, centered on aerospace industry, anti-aging bio wellness, and other new growth engines, another axis.”

On the 27th, Cho Geunje, County Governor of Haman, and Gu Inmo, County Governor of Geochang, also expressed their support for Governor Park’s Bu-Ul-Gyeong administrative integration plan.

Governor Cho said, “There is growing concern among residents about the annual operating cost burden of 16 billion KRW, the deployment of about 150 public officials, and the neglect of the western Gyeongnam region, which could hinder balanced development across the province,” adding, “In the face of a comprehensive crisis including rapid population decline, industrial structural changes and decline, and local extinction, the most important thing is that Bu-Ul-Gyeong must unite as one,” urging administrative integration.

Governor Gu said, “The Bu-Ul-Gyeong Special Union, criticized as ineffective and a ‘roof on the roof’ created separately above metropolitan governments, should be omitted, and going straight to Bu-Ul-Gyeong administrative integration is the way to accelerate the megacity and respond quickly to the metropolitan area’s unipolar system, national balanced development, and local extinction.”

He emphasized, “Bu-Ul-Gyeong administrative integration must include a vision and strategy for balanced development of the 18 cities and counties, including western Gyeongnam,” and pointed out, “As a megacity responding to the concentration in the metropolitan area, it is naturally unacceptable to neglect the balanced development of Bu-Ul-Gyeong.”

Jin Byeongyoung, County Governor of Hamyang, also raised his voice, saying, “The Bu-Ul-Gyeong Special Union is a project for mutual growth and balanced development of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, but if regional imbalance accelerates, it is better not to do it,” and added, “Through the administrative integration proposed by Governor Park, broad administration that provides opportunities for all and promotes shared prosperity is needed.”

He also said, “Rather than creating a superficial administrative organization, the three metropolitan autonomous entities should focus their capabilities on administrative integration that enables balanced development and shared prosperity.”