Establishment of the Future Spatial Strategy Bureau and Financial Officer
Organizational Restructuring Scheduled for February Next Year
Busan City will pursue an organizational restructuring in the first half of next year, aiming to complete the creation of a citizen happiness-oriented city under the eighth popularly-elected administration.
On December 24, Busan City announced that it will conduct a first-half 2026 organizational restructuring by issuing a legislative notice for the "Ordinance on the Establishment of Administrative Organizations and Staffing" from December 24 to January 13 next year, and will adjust its administrative structure and staffing levels accordingly.
After the legislative notice, the city plans to consult with the city council and other stakeholders, submit the revised ordinance to the city council on January 15, and implement the restructuring in February after deliberation and approval at the 333rd city council session.
This restructuring focuses on addressing inefficiencies identified during operations and enhancing stability and efficiency, rather than implementing a large-scale overhaul. It is characterized by its emphasis on strengthening the foundation for realizing a global hub city and a citizen happiness-oriented city.
The main highlight is the expansion and reorganization of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Mega-Region Economic Alliance Promotion Team. The existing division-level (Grade 4) organization will be upgraded to a headquarters-level (Grade 3) unit, with two new dedicated departments established within the headquarters to enhance the execution of mega-regional cooperation projects. The city aims to proactively respond to the government's "Five Poles and Three Special Zones Balanced Growth Strategy" and to unite the capabilities of the three cities and provinces in the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region, thereby promoting the formation of a mega-regional economic and living zone.
A new Future Spatial Strategy Bureau will also be established to create a sustainable, future-oriented urban space. This bureau will oversee the master plan and guidelines for overall urban space, incorporate the 15-Minute City Planning Division, and establish both the Urban Spatial Strategy Division and the Urban Spatial Innovation Division. Through this, the city will integrate the management of work and projects related to urban spatial innovation.
A new Financial Officer position will be created to oversee the city's financial operations. Reporting to the Planning and Coordination Office, the Financial Officer will comprehensively manage all aspects of finance, including budgeting, local taxes, and accounting, thereby strengthening balanced budget formulation and fiscal soundness. The support function for securing national funds and responding to government cooperation will also be reinforced. In addition, a new support department will be established to build an integrated care system, enhancing administrative capabilities in areas closely related to citizens' daily lives.
Park Heongjoon, Mayor of Busan, emphasized, "Based on the achievements of city administration so far, we aim to reorganize the administrative system so that Busan can take another leap forward," adding, "We will concentrate administrative capabilities on improving citizens' quality of life and the dignity of the city."
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