Busan is good

Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration: Western Region Citizens' Debate Held… Final Citizens' Debate in Busan Concludes Successfully

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) and the Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration Public Consensus Committee (hereinafter referred to as “the Committee,” Chairperson Jeon Ho-hwan) announced that the “Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration Citizens’ Debate (Western Region),” held yesterday (July 22) at the Modeullak Theater in Busan Library, marked the conclusion of the citizens' debates in the Busan region, all of which ended successfully.

The latest debate was attended by approximately 250 participants, including residents from Busan's western districts (Buk-gu, Saha-gu, Gangseo-gu, and Sasang-gu), academics, experts, and relevant stakeholders. Among the observers were Park Dae-geun, Chair of the Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration Special Committee of the Busan Metropolitan Council, and Heo Yong-bok, Chair of the Gyeongnam-Busan Administrative Integration Special Committee of the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Council.

As the final citizens’ debate held in the Busan region, this session featured a keynote presentation by Park Jae-yul, spokesperson of the Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration Public Consensus Committee, under the theme “Current Status and Direction of Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration.” The presentation covered the necessity of integration and envisioned the future of the integrated region.

The designated discussion panel was chaired by Jeon Ho-hwan, Co-Chair of the Committee and former President of Pusan National University. Panelists included Kang Hye-ran, Chair of the Sasang-gu Local Era Committee; Kim Hyo-jeong, Member of the Busan Metropolitan Council; Park Jae-wook, Professor at Silla University; and Jeong Hong-sang, Professor at Kyungpook National University.

▲ Chair Kang Hye-ran addressed policies and strategies for the successful integration of Busan and Gyeongnam.
▲ Council Member Kim Hyo-jeong discussed the details and necessity of the integration initiative.
▲ Professor Park Jae-wook presented action plans and challenges for establishing Busan as a logistics and industrial hub in Northeast Asia.
▲ Professor Jeong Hong-sang shared his views on the theoretical foundations and considerations related to administrative integration.

The debate was particularly meaningful as it offered citizens the chance to express their opinions while gaining an objective understanding of the current status and direction of administrative integration, ultimately helping to build public consensus.

Co-Chair Jeon Ho-hwan expressed gratitude, saying, “I sincerely thank the citizens who actively participated throughout the past month. As Korea continues to face the crisis of population decline, it is essential for local regions to join forces. Through administrative integration, we will establish Busan and Gyeongnam as a new axis of national growth to counterbalance the capital region and overcome this crisis.”