"In order to integrate the South Coast region into a single economic zone and create a new model for balanced national development, rational regulatory reform and institutional improvements at the national level are urgently needed."
On the 26th, Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Park Wansu hosted the "South Coast Development Special Act Forum" at the Second Small Conference Room of the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Seoul, where he urged the enactment of the Special Act for the Development of the South Coast Region and stressed this point.
Park Wansu, governor of Gyeongnam Province, is urging the enactment of the Special Act for the Development of the Southern Coastal Region at the 'Southern Coastal Region Development Special Act Forum'. Photo by Gyeongnam Province
Governor Park said, "The South Coast, with its ria coastline, beautiful islands, and rich history and culture, is the hope for the future of the Republic of Korea," adding, "It is a region with great potential, not only for tourism but also as a hub where strategic industries such as shipbuilding and space and aviation are clustered."
He went on to explain, "However, due to various regulations such as fishery resource protection zones and national parks, the area has been tightly restricted with little change since the founding of the Republic of Korea," and added, "In particular, if you add up the areas under overlapping regulations along the South Coast of Gyeongsangnam-do, they exceed the total administrative area of the South Coast region of Gyeongsangnam-do, making it excessively regulated and difficult to even discuss development."
According to Gyeongsangnam-do, overlapping regulatory zones in the South Coast region of the province include conservation forest areas, national parks, greenbelt zones, fishery resource protection zones, agricultural promotion zones, natural environment conservation areas, restricted areas for installation of emission facilities, water source protection zones, and forest protection zones. The total area under regulation is 3,782.87 square kilometers, while the administrative area is 3,333.06 square kilometers.
Governor Park stressed, "It is absurd to talk about balanced development while easing regulations in the Seoul metropolitan area but leaving in place the regulations on the South Coast, which is a future growth engine," and added, "It is time for the perspective of the government of the Republic of Korea to change."
He also said, "Look at the case of France, where from the 1960s over some 20 years the central government led massive investments along the Mediterranean coast and fostered it as a driver of balanced national development and growth," emphasizing that "a strategic approach at the national level is necessary."
He further emphasized, "A major transformation of the tourism industry is needed to overcome the concentration of foreign tourists in the Seoul metropolitan area," and added, "The very place that the Republic of Korea should newly focus on and foster is the South Coast."
Lastly, he said, "The Special Act for the Development of the South Coast Region is the hope of 3.3 million residents of the province," and added, "I hope the National Assembly will take the lead in enacting the Special Act for the Development of the South Coast Region with the determination to create hope for the future of the Republic of Korea. Gyeongsangnam-do will also do its utmost together with Jeollanam-do and Busan."
Participants of the 'Namhaean Region Development Special Act Forum' are urging the enactment of the Special Act for the Development of the Namhaean Region. Provided by Gyeongnam Province
This forum was held under the theme, "A New Path for Balanced National Development, Connecting Gyeongnam, Jeonnam, and Busan: Enactment of the South Coast Development Special Act."
The forum was co-hosted by three metropolitan governments - Gyeongsangnam-do, Jeollanam-do, and Busan - together with Representative Jeong Jeomsik of the People Power Party (Tongyeong and Goseong in Gyeongsangnam-do) and Representative Moon Geumjoo of the Democratic Party of Korea (Goheung, Boseong, Jangheung, and Gangjin in Jeollanam-do), who jointly sponsored the Special Act, and organized by The Korea Times.
About 120 people attended, including Democratic Party lawmakers Moon Geumjoo and Kim Won-i (Mokpo in Jeollanam-do); People Power Party lawmakers Jeong Jeomsik, Lee Jonguk (Jinhae, Changwon in Gyeongsangnam-do), Kim Taeho (Yangsan-eul in Gyeongsangnam-do), Kim Jeongjae (Buk-gu, Pohang in Gyeongsangbuk-do), and Seo Cheonho (Sacheon, Namhae, and Hadong in Gyeongsangnam-do); Jeollanam-do Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs Hwang Giyeon; Busan City Spokesperson Won Youngil; as well as local government officials and experts.
The forum began with an opening ceremony and a promotional video for the Special Act, followed by a keynote lecture, a special lecture, and an expert panel discussion.
In the keynote lecture, Yook Dongil, President of the Korea Research Institute for Local Administration, said, "The single-core structure centered on the capital region is a structural risk factor for national growth," adding, "The South Coast Development Special Act is not simply about regional development, but a strategic institutional framework to transform the national spatial structure."
He pointed out, "Existing balanced development policies have limitations in producing tangible results because they are characterized by fragmented project listings, segmentation between ministries and local governments, and a regulation-centered approach," and proposed, "To overcome this, it is necessary to shift to designating the South Coast region as a national strategic space based on ultra-wide-area cooperation."
Kim Junkyung, Dean of the KDI School of Public Policy and Management, said, "In the context of global competition, industrial cities in the South Coast region need structural transformation," and added, "A structural framework must be put in place that allows industry, talent, infrastructure, and regulations to be designed in an integrated manner at the spatial level."
Representative Jeong Jeomsik said, "The South Coast Development Special Act is a project to create a second economic axis to counterbalance the capital region, going beyond mere support for local projects," and added, "The ruling and opposition parties will join forces to secure the swift passage of the bill."
Building on this forum, Gyeongsangnam-do plans to strengthen cooperation with the National Assembly under the shared goal of the three South Coast regions of forming "a second economic axis of the Republic of Korea."
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