Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Holds Policy Meeting with Kim Bugyeom, Democratic Party General Election Committee Chairman

Recommendations for the Relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and HMM Headquarters to Busan for the City's Leap as a Global Maritime Capital
Requests for Timely Opening of Gadeokdo New Airport, Expansion of Clean Water Supply, and Support for Relocating Korea Development Bank Headquarters to Busan

The Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chairman Yang Jaesaeng) held a policy meeting on the 16th in the chamber’s conference room between Kim Bugyeom, General Election Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, and local businesspeople.

This meeting was organized to deliver key issues facing the local business community to Chairman Kim during his visit to Busan, and to request that these issues be reflected in the pledges of the candidates for the 21st presidential election.

From the Democratic Party of Korea, three people attended the meeting: Chairman Kim Bugyeom, Park Jaeho, Standing Committee Chairman of the Busan Election Committee, and Jeong Jinwoo, Election Committee Chairman. From the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chairman Yang Jaesaeng and 11 major local business leaders participated.

During the meeting, the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented Chairman Kim with the "Suggestions from the Busan Business Community," a compilation of key regional issues and business challenges, and strongly recommended that these be actively reflected in the regional pledges of Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate.

The main proposals suggested on the day included a total of 25 items, such as: strengthening the functions of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and relocating it to Busan; relocating the HMM headquarters to Busan; relocating the headquarters of the Korea Development Bank; attracting a Busan-style integrated resort; measures for supplying clean water; establishing a maritime court and shipping exchange; improving business regulations such as the Serious Accidents Punishment Act; and introducing a regionally differentiated electricity rate system.

The participants especially expressed consensus on the need to relocate the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and HMM to Busan. A representative of the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated, "The relocation of the HMM headquarters has been a key initiative since Chairman Yang Jaesaeng took office, and with candidate Lee Jaemyung including it in his pledges, we expect the project to gain significant momentum."

In addition, the Busan business community mentioned the timely opening of the new airport on Gadeokdo, the expansion of clean water supply in the Busan and Gyeongnam regions, and the relocation of the Korea Development Bank headquarters, requesting active government support and reconsideration.

Yang Jaesaeng, Chairman of the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized, "At a time when the difficulties facing the local economy have reached their peak, we ask for special attention to be given to the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, HMM, and the headquarters of the Korea Development Bank to Busan so that the city can leap forward as a global maritime capital."

In response, Chairman Kim Bugyeom said, "I came to Busan to hear directly from the local business community," adding, "I will thoroughly review the suggestions from the field and ensure they are reflected in policy development."

Going forward, the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry plans to continue communicating with each party’s presidential candidates based on the suggestions, actively working to have key regional issues reflected in their pledges.

The Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry held a policy meeting on the 16th between Kim Bu-gyeom, the General Election Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, and local businesspeople. Photo by Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry