Busan is good

Successful Conclusion of the 5th Meeting of the Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration Deliberation Committee

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The City of Busan (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it successfully hosted the 5th meeting of the Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration Deliberation Committee (hereinafter referred to as "the Committee") on April 8 at 4:00 p.m. at Busan City Hotel.

The meeting was attended by Co-Chairs Jeon Ho-hwan and Kwon Soon-ki, along with committee members and related officials from both regions. Park Dae-geun, Chair of the Special Committee on Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration in the Busan Metropolitan Council, and Heo Yong-bok, Chair of the corresponding committee in the Gyeongnam Provincial Council, also attended as observers.

This session was held in Busan in accordance with the alternating hosting principle between Busan and Gyeongnam. Agenda items included committee member appointments and subcommittee reassignments, and partial amendments to the operational regulations. Additionally, subcommittee meetings and discussions on their outcomes were conducted.

The Committee appointed Jung Hyun-min, Executive Vice Chairman of the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as a new member, assigning him to the Decentralization Subcommittee.

Jung brings extensive experience in the field of decentralization, having served as Busan's Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs and as Director General of Local Administration Policy at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. His appointment is expected to bolster the subcommittee’s expertise and activity.

The Committee also amended its operational regulations to establish the Operations Committee, creating a foundation for more efficient decision-making and coordination among subcommittees.

Furthermore, the Committee convened its three subcommittees to engage in topic-specific discussions:

• ●The Planning and Communication Subcommittee exchanged ideas on the rescheduled dates for the Busan-Gyeongnam administrative integration public forum and discussed promotional strategies moving forward.

• ●The Decentralization Subcommittee presented opinions on legislative autonomy.

• ●The Balanced Development Subcommittee analyzed cases of administrative integration from other regions to identify relevant implications for Busan and Gyeongnam.

Prior to the main meeting, the Committee held a press briefing in the Busan Metropolitan Council press room to report its progress and outline future plans.

This briefing aimed to enhance public understanding, foster consensus, and encourage participation in the administrative integration process.

Co-Chair Jeon Ho-hwan stated,

“The press briefing before today’s 5th meeting was a valuable opportunity to report on the status of integration to the citizens of both regions. I believe that with joint efforts from the people of Busan and Gyeongnam, anything is possible. We will continue to engage with the public and strive for the best outcomes.”

Co-Chair Kwon Soon-ki added,

“Today’s press briefing was a chance to share our past activities and future direction. Although the public forum was postponed due to the recent wildfire emergency and the impeachment ruling, we will work diligently to maintain momentum in the deliberation process.”

The Committee plans to continue collecting public opinions and ultimately compile a public consensus report on the Busan-Gyeongnam administrative integration, which will be formally submitted to both regional governments.

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[Appendix 1] Meeting Overview

Meeting Overview

• ●Date/Time & Venue: April 8, 2025 (Tue), 4:00 p.m. / 2F Convention Room, Busan City Hotel

• ●Participants: About 30 people (Deliberation Committee members, support teams, regional research institutes)

• ●Meeting Content: 2 items for deliberation, 2 items for reporting

• ○Deliberation Items:

• 1.Appointment and reassignment of Committee members and subcommittees

• 2.Partial amendment of operational regulations for the establishment of the Operations Committee

• ○Reporting Items:

• 1.Presentation and discussion of subcommittee meeting outcomes

• 2.Briefing session report

Agenda Schedule

Segment	Time	Main Content	Remarks
Opening	16:00–16:10	Opening, agenda overview, remarks by Busan and Gyeongnam Co-Chairs	Led by Admin Integration TF Team
Main Session	16:10–16:40	Deliberation Items 1. Appointment/reassignment of Committee members 2. Operational rules amendment	Led by Admin Integration TF Team
Subcommittees	16:40–17:10	Subcommittee discussions: – Planning & Communication: Promotion strategies – Decentralization: Legislative autonomy – Balanced Development: Case studies	Led by Subcommittee Chairs
Break	17:10–17:20	Break and summary of subcommittee discussions
Final Session	17:20–18:00	Reporting Items 1. Presentation/discussion of subcommittee results 2. Report on press briefing outcomes	Led by Committee Co-Chairs
Closing		Commemorative photo and closing

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[Appendix 2] Meeting Photos