Nationwide Consensus Growing on Korea Development Bank Relocation to Busan
as the Starting Point for the Second Phase of Public Institution Relocations
Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chairman Yang Jaesaeng) held a joint regional forum on the relocation of the Korea Development Bank headquarters to Busan in collaboration with the Citizens' Sympathy for Preparing for Future Society at the Chamber Hall on the 7th.
Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry held the "Korea Development Bank Headquarters Relocation to Busan Nationwide Regional Joint Forum" in cooperation with Citizens' Sympathy for Preparing Future Society at the Sangui Hall and is taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
This forum was organized to urge the National Assembly for the prompt passage of the partial amendment to the Korea Development Bank Act and to build nationwide consensus that the relocation of the Korea Development Bank to Busan marks the starting point of the second phase of public institution relocations.
The national consent petition, led by the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, calling for the amendment of the Korea Development Bank Act, quickly reached its goal of 50,000 signatures and was referred to the Political Affairs Committee on the 5th of last month.
Today's event was attended by about 100 people, including representatives of civic groups and citizens from all regions nationwide such as Busan, Yeongnam, Honam, Chungcheong, and Jeju. The program included the signing and reading of a joint statement by regional civic group representatives, a keynote presentation and discussion by Ahn Kwonuk, co-representative of the Local Decentralization Gyeongnam Solidarity.
The regional representatives clearly declared in their joint statement that the starting point of the second phase of public institution relocations is the relocation of the Korea Development Bank headquarters to Busan, and urged the prompt passage of the amendment to the Korea Development Bank Act to change the location of the headquarters from Seoul to Busan. They also emphasized that this relocation will be the first step not only for Busan but for balanced national development and overcoming the crisis of regional extinction.
Ahn Kwonuk, co-representative of the Local Decentralization Gyeongnam Solidarity, who gave the keynote presentation, also stressed that the relocation of the Korea Development Bank to Busan is not just a local issue but a national task for resolving overconcentration in the capital area and achieving balanced national development. He emphasized that solidarity and participation from civic society nationwide are essential.
Yang Jaesaeng, Chairman of the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated in his opening remarks, "Due to the unipolar system centered on the capital region, local areas in Korea are facing the risk of extinction, while the capital area suffers from overpopulation. It is time to bring the relocation of the Korea Development Bank and the second phase of public institution relocations into public discussion and strongly urge the government and political circles to push for them promptly for balanced national development."
Starting with this forum, the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry plans to continuously expand cooperation with civic society nationwide to broaden public consensus on the relocation of the Korea Development Bank to Busan and additional public institution relocations.
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