"Let us work together more closely so that the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region can become a new growth hub for South Korea."
The mayors and governor of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam reached this consensus at the 'Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam City and Provincial Governors Regional Issues Meeting' held at the Lotte Hotel & Resort in Gimhae on the afternoon of July 2, as announced on July 3.
Ulsan Mayor Kim Dugyeom (left), Gyeongnam Governor Park Wansu, and Busan Mayor Park Hyeongjun held the 'Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam City and Provincial Governors Regional Issues Meeting' to discuss regional issues and administrative integration. Provided by Gyeongnam Province
Gyeongnam Governor Park Wansu, Busan Mayor Park Hyeongjun, and Ulsan Mayor Kim Dugyeom agreed at the meeting to jointly respond to the following: ▲strengthening local autonomy and achieving balanced national development, ▲cooperating with the local political community to resolve regional issues, and ▲administrative integration between Busan and Gyeongnam.
They emphasized that "the deepening of the Seoul metropolitan area-centered unipolar system poses a serious threat to the sustainability of South Korea," and stressed that "above all, it is essential to establish a foundation for local regions to grow independently in order to solve this problem."
They also stated, "To devise solutions for major issues in the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region and to reflect joint cooperation projects as national policy tasks, we will arrange for the local political community to come together as soon as possible for discussion."
The three leaders also agreed on the need for cooperation among Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam to form a metropolitan economic bloc that can counter the unipolar system centered on the Seoul metropolitan area.
They further expressed their commitment to increasing public engagement in the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Super Metropolitan Economic Alliance and to securing the effectiveness of integration based on this foundation.
Governor Park Wansu and Mayor Park Hyeongjun decided to proceed with the administrative integration of Busan and Gyeongnam, which is currently being promoted mainly by the Public Deliberation Committee, according to the planned schedule without any setbacks.
Mayor Kim Dugyeom stated that if the administrative integration between Busan and Gyeongnam is realized, Ulsan will consider whether to join the integration.
Governor Park Wansu and Mayor Park Hyeongjun plan to announce a joint statement on administrative integration soon.
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