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Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration Public Debate (Central Region) Successfully Held: A Forum for Civic Discourse

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) and the Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration Public Discussion Committee (Co-chairs Jeon Ho-hwan and Kwon Soon-ki, hereafter “the Committee”) announced that the “Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration Public Debate (Central Region),” held yesterday (July 9) in the main conference room of the City Council, concluded successfully.

First, Park Jae-yul, spokesperson of the Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration Public Discussion Committee, delivered a keynote presentation on the “Current Status and Direction of the Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration,” followed by designated panel discussions.

The presentation included an explanation of the progress made in the administrative integration of Busan and Gyeongnam thus far, its future direction, anticipated benefits, and the envisioned future after integration.

The designated discussion session was chaired by Jeon Ho-hwan, former president of Pusan National University and co-chair of the Committee, and featured the following panelists:

• ●Kim Kyung-woo, Professor at Pusan National University

• ●Kim Jeong-hwan, Secretary General of Busan YWCA

• ●Song Woo-hyun, Busan City Council member

• ●Ha Hye-soo, Professor at Kyungpook National University

During the discussions:

• ●Professor Kim Kyung-woo addressed the necessity and expected benefits of the Busan-Gyeongnam administrative integration.

• ●Secretary General Kim Jeong-hwan emphasized communication and future measures for the success of the integration.

• ●Council member Song Woo-hyun discussed the contents and necessity of the integration process.

• ●Professor Ha Hye-soo presented arguments for and against the administrative integration.

Meanwhile, prior to the debate, the Committee convened its 8th meeting on July 8 at the Gaya Conference Room of the Gyeongnam Institute.

Following the rotational hosting principle between Busan and Gyeongnam, the meeting was held in Gyeongnam and included discussions and subcommittee reports on:

• ●Strategies for balanced development under the integration

• ●Interim reports on the public debates

• ●Identification of special cases related to decentralization and balanced development

The public debate sessions, including this one for the central region, will continue across both Busan and Gyeongnam through the end of July. The third Busan session, targeting the eastern region (Nam-gu, Haeundae-gu, Suyeong-gu, Gijang-gun), is scheduled for July 15 at 14:00 in the auditorium of the Women’s Center.

The Busan region debates are scheduled as follows:

• ●[Eastern Region] July 15, 14:00, Busan Women’s Center

• ●[Western Region] July 22, 14:00, Busan Library

The Gyeongnam region debates are scheduled as follows:

• ●[Western Region] July 11, 14:00, Gyeongsang National University in Jinju

• ●[Southern Region] July 17, 14:00, Tongyeong Chungmu Public Library

• ●[Central Region] July 25, 14:00, Changwon Convention Center

Co-chair Jeon Ho-hwan stated, “The Public Discussion Committee is currently conducting regional public debates and plenary meetings to hear the voices of residents and develop administrative integration strategies tailored to the region. We hope for active participation in the upcoming Eastern Region public debate on July 15 and will thoroughly review various special measures based on residents’ opinions.”