"Busan is Attractive... Vicious Cycle of Job Shortage and Declining Birth Rate"
District Mayoral By-Election Areas, Visits to Busan National University Hospital Emergency Room Also Included
Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, met with university students in the Busan area and said, "We will do our best to address the thirst young people feel for good jobs and the frustration with regional disparities."
On the morning of the 11th, Han held a 'University Student Meeting on Measures to Address Employment Gaps Between Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan Youth' at a cafe in Geumjeong-gu, Busan, stating, "The People Power Party will place improving the lives of young people at the very top of our policy goals."
He added, "Many say that the overall unemployment rate is fine right now, but there are many hidden aspects in the numbers. The figures do not include those who have given up looking for jobs," emphasizing this point. He continued, "Busan is a very attractive city and the second largest city, but it is difficult to find quality jobs here. Feeling this lack, young people move to the metropolitan area, causing a vicious cycle of population decline and falling birth rates in Busan."
Jung Byung-wook, a master's student in the Department of Computer Engineering at Pusan National University, said, "Busan has fewer educational opportunities, and there are also fewer companies where one can utilize those skills for employment," adding, "If the non-memory semiconductor industry is revitalized in Busan, people might not have to leave their beloved hometown."
Park Hyung-joon, mayor of Busan who was also present, said, "At the root of South Korea's core problems is the issue of youth concentrating in the metropolitan area," and requested support for attracting industries capable of creating quality jobs in Busan, such as establishing a financial special zone.
After the meeting, Han visited Seodongmi-ro Market located in Geumjeong-gu. Geumjeong-gu is a target area for the upcoming district mayor by-election scheduled for the 16th of next month. This visit by Han is analyzed as a move aimed at winning local votes. In the afternoon, Han also made a private visit to the emergency room of Busan National University Hospital in Yangsan to check on medical preparations for Chuseok.
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