Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration Committee: "Integration Is Necessary, Decision Should Be Made by Referendum"

The Public Deliberation Committee for the Administrative Integration of Busan and Gyeongnam has issued its final opinion after 15 months of activity, stating that administrative integration is necessary and proposing that it be implemented through a resident referendum.

On January 13, the committee held a briefing at the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Press Center, announcing, "Based on the results of the final public opinion survey and a comprehensive review of 15 months of committee activities, we have determined that pursuing administrative integration between Busan and Gyeongnam is necessary."

The committee was established in November 2024 and consists of 30 members, including two co-chairs.

Since then, the committee has traveled throughout Busan and Gyeongnam, holding regional forums and briefings to explain the background and necessity of administrative integration, gather resident opinions, conduct surveys, and hold plenary meetings. These efforts have identified special provisions for each sector and created a platform for public deliberation among city and provincial residents.

According to the committee, a public opinion survey conducted from December 23 to 29 of the previous year among 4,047 residents aged 18 or older in Busan and Gyeongnam showed that 53.3% supported administrative integration, representing a majority.

By region, 55.5% of respondents in Busan and 51.7% in Gyeongnam expressed support, which is 18 percentage points higher than the 2023 survey.

Opposition to administrative integration was at 29%, down 16.6 percentage points from 2023.

The Public Deliberation Committee for Administrative Integration of Busan and Gyeongnam is making the final announcement regarding administrative integration. Photo by Lee Seryung

The committee explained that while a majority of residents recognize the need for administrative integration, there are still some opposing views and differing opinions across regions and areas. The committee emphasized the need for sufficient discussion and communication throughout the integration process.

In particular, the committee stated, "To secure the legitimacy of the integration decision and minimize post-integration conflicts and trial-and-error, we propose that the final decision on administrative integration be made through a resident referendum."

The committee also recommended that a comprehensive, balanced development policy tailored to regional characteristics be established and promoted as a core policy of the integrated local government.

Additionally, to ensure balanced development among the 34 cities, counties, and districts of Busan and Gyeongnam after integration, the committee suggested the establishment and operation of 'regional cooperative organizations' with direct participation from basic local governments.

The committee stated, "Although discussions on administrative integration are currently focused on Busan and Gyeongnam, there is a clear need for complete integration that includes Ulsan, which historically shares roots and can develop within the same living and industrial spheres. We hope that future discussions will keep open the possibility of Ulsan's participation."

The committee also emphasized that the integrated local government must be granted appropriate autonomy and special provisions.

The committee noted, "Busan and Gyeongnam have a far greater impact from integration than other regions due to their economic scale, industrial linkages, and infrastructure connectivity. We request that the government first consider expanding autonomy and granting special provisions appropriate to the status of Busan and Gyeongnam, and actively support the integration process moving forward."

To this end, the committee is pursuing the enactment of a special law that would guarantee legislative, organizational, autonomous, and financial authority and status appropriate to the integrated local government.

The draft of the special law reportedly includes a model for administrative integration in which the provisional name for the integrated region would be 'Gyeongnam-Busan Special City,' with the abolition of the Busan Metropolitan City and Gyeongnam Province governments while maintaining the existing cities, counties, and districts. It also includes the creation of a mutual growth fund for balanced development between Busan and Gyeongnam, priority support for areas at risk of depopulation, and over 300 special provisions related to organization and industry.

However, as this is not a finalized plan, the detailed contents were not fully released on this day.

On the afternoon of the same day, the committee will review the final opinion statement at its 14th meeting at the Korea Democracy Foundation in Changwon and deliver it to Gyeongnam Governor Park Wansu and Busan Mayor Park Hyungjun.

Based on the final opinion statement, the two governors plan to conduct additional reviews and, as early as early February, hold a joint press conference to announce the implementation plan for the resident referendum, including whether it will be held and its timing.

If a majority of residents support administrative integration in the referendum, the plan is to accelerate its implementation.

The committee assessed, "In order to effectively respond to the increasing concentration of population and economy in the Seoul metropolitan area, Busan and Gyeongnam have declared a bottom-up, resident-led approach to administrative integration and have focused on creating a platform for balanced and informed public deliberation."

The committee added, "We hope that the step-by-step, bottom-up administrative integration process will proceed smoothly, enabling Busan and Gyeongnam to emerge as the economic and industrial capitals of Korea."