Busan is good

Busan City Unveils Presidential Election Policy Agenda Ahead of the 21st Presidential Election

내용

Proposing a New Future for Busan and the Republic of Korea

The Busan Metropolitan Government (Mayor Park Heong-joon) has announced a set of presidential election policy proposals to be presented to political parties and candidates, leveraging the early election as an opportunity to spur new development and resolve pending issues in Busan.

The proposals encompass 32 projects across three core sectors, with an estimated total cost of KRW 140 trillion. These sectors include:
➊ Building foundational infrastructure as a hub,
➋ Driving growth through innovative industries, and
➌ Establishing a desirable residential environment.

The agenda is designed to maximize Busan’s potential as a global hub city and improve the quality of life for its citizens.

[Foundational Infrastructure as a Hub]

• ●Gadeok Mega Connect Project (KRW 30.8 trillion)

• ●Busan Gateway City (KRW 32.4 trillion)

• ●K-Arctic Route Triport Logistics Hub City (KRW 21.6 trillion)

[Driving Growth Through Innovative Industries]

• ●Southern AI-Quantum Industry Hub (KRW 4.4 trillion)

• ●Global Financial and Startup Center (KRW 2.1 trillion)

• ●Future Mobility Leading City of the South (KRW 10.9 trillion)

[Establishing a Desirable Residential Environment]

• ●K-Content and Tourism Hub (KRW 1 trillion)

• ●Carbon-Neutral Eco-Friendly City (KRW 4.5 trillion)

• ●Senior Leisure and Wellness City (KRW 3.3 trillion)

To ensure balanced regional development and solidify Busan’s status as a “Global Hub City,” the city has selected 10 key policy proposals of high strategic and symbolic value, which it will actively promote for inclusion in the presidential campaign pledges and the next administration’s policy agenda.

10 Key Presidential Election Policy Proposals for Busan’s Development:

• 1.Enactment of the Busan Global Hub City Special Act

• 2.Relocation of the Korea Development Bank (KDB) Headquarters to Busan

• 3.Establishment of a Maritime Specialized Court in Busan

• 4.Phase 2 Expansion of Gadeokdo New Airport and Establishment of the (tentatively named) Gadeokdo Airport Corporation

• 5.Construction of the Next-Generation Busan Hydrogen Express Railway (BuTX)

• 6.Establishment of an AI-Quantum Convergence Research Institute and Designation of Busan as a Negative Regulation Testbed for AI

• 7.Development of a Power Semiconductor Power City

• 8.Integrated Development of the Nopo Station Area in Northern Busan

• 9.Hosting of the National Video and Gaming Content Complex

• 10.Designation of the Nakdong River Estuary as One of Korea’s Three Major National Green Zones

The 10 key proposals include major current issues, such as the Busan Global Hub City Special Act and the relocation of the Korea Development Bank headquarters to Busan, as well as future-oriented strategies to enhance Busan’s global hub functionality and foster high-tech industries.

Following the inauguration of the 22nd National Assembly, bipartisan lawmakers from Busan have jointly proposed the Busan Global Hub City Special Act. Through its adoption as a presidential campaign pledge, the city hopes to secure momentum for the bill’s passage. The relocation of the Korea Development Bank headquarters, which recently gained significant public attention by achieving the required 50,000 signatures for a National Assembly petition, is also being pushed as a regional pledge for major party candidates.

To enable Gadeokdo New Airport to fully function as a southern global hub airport, the city is proposing a Phase 2 expansion and the establishment of the (tentatively named) Gadeokdo Airport Corporation. In response to the era of digital transformation, the city is also proposing the creation of an AI-Quantum Convergence Research Institute to lead innovation across industries, and the development of a Power Semiconductor Power City to support production and R&D in key national strategic industries such as future mobility, aerospace, defense, and shipbuilding.

Other initiatives include the establishment of a Maritime Specialized Court in Busan, construction of the BuTX hydrogen express railway, integrated development of the Nopo Station area in Northern Busan, hosting the National Video and Gaming Content Complex, and designation of the Nakdong River Estuary—as well as Geumjeongsan National Park and Nakdong River Urban and National Gardens—as one of the three major national green spaces.

To promote cooperative growth in the southern region, Busan is also proposing interregional collaboration projects with Ulsan and Gyeongnam worth approximately KRW 29 trillion as presidential pledges. Institutional reforms have also been announced, including the establishment of a Ministry for Balanced Population and Regional Development (tentative name) and constitutional amendments to reinforce decentralized governance.

Starting with today’s (April 21) press briefing by Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs Lee Jun-seung, Busan will actively work with local political circles, civil society, and other stakeholders to ensure that these policy proposals are adopted by presidential candidates and reflected in the national agenda of the next government.

Mayor Park Heong-joon emphasized, “The 21st presidential election represents a pivotal turning point for the future of both Busan and the Republic of Korea. Busan will lead this transformation, and we will do everything possible to ensure that these proposals are adopted as presidential pledges and incorporated into the new administration’s national policy.”

He added, “In particular, the 10 key initiatives, including the Busan Global Hub City Special Act, reflect strong public aspirations and are essential to regional development. We strongly urge the major presidential candidates to adopt them as official pledges.”