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Busan Metropolitan City Announces Proposed Organizational Restructuring for the First Half of 2026

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will pursue a proposed organizational restructuring for the first half of 2026, adjusting administrative bodies and staffing levels to complete the “Citizen Happiness City,” a key goal of the 8th popularly elected administration.

To this end, the City will issue a legislative notice from today (24th) through January 13, 2026, for the proposed “Amendment to the Ordinance on the Establishment of Administrative Organizations and Staffing Levels,” which contains the new restructuring plan.

Following consultations with the City Council and other relevant parties, the City plans to submit the amendment to the City Council on January 15, 2026, and implement the restructuring in February after deliberation and approval (the 333rd session).

This proposed restructuring focuses on stability and efficiency, not sweeping change, by addressing operational inefficiencies and reinforcing the City’s capacity to complete the Citizen Happiness City.

Key measures include: (1) expanding and reorganizing the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam Mega-Regional Economic Alliance Promotion Unit from a Grade-4 division-level unit into a Grade-3 headquarters to proactively respond to the government’s “5 Major Hubs and 3 Special Zones” balanced growth strategy; (2) establishing a dedicated bureau to promote the creation of sustainable, future-oriented innovative spaces; and (3) establishing the Director of Fiscal Affairs to strengthen the City’s overall fiscal coordination function, thereby reinforcing the foundation for realizing a “Global Hub City” and “Citizen Happiness City.”

□ [Establishment of the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam Mega-Regional Economic Alliance Promotion Headquarters] As the need for mega-regional cooperation grows in line with the government’s direction for state administration and rapidly changing domestic and external circumstances, the City will reinforce the existing organization to establish a more efficient administrative system.

Currently, the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam Mega-Regional Economic Alliance Promotion Unit at the division level will be elevated to a Grade-3 headquarters, and two dedicated departments will be newly established within the headquarters to enhance the implementation capacity of mega-regional cooperation projects.

Through this, the City will bring together the capabilities of the three city and provincial governments of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam to counter the deepening concentration in the Seoul Capital Area and to create a “mega-regional economic and living zone” capable of competing on equal footing with the capital region.

In addition, the City will lay the groundwork for Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam to make a leap forward as a new innovation-driven growth hub by promoting the “realization of economies of scale” beyond regional boundaries and by securing future industrial competitiveness.

□ [Establishment of the Future Space Strategy Bureau] The City will build an urban spatial development strategy system to create sustainable, future-oriented innovative spaces.

The City will establish the Future Space Strategy Bureau to formulate the overarching master plan for urban space and to develop, manage, and oversee relevant policies (guidelines). The 15-Minute City Planning Division will be transferred to the Future Space Strategy Bureau, and urban space innovation tasks and related projects will be consolidated by establishing the Urban Space Strategy Division and the Urban Space Innovation Division.

Through this, the City will reinforce its organizational framework to expand the development of the 15-Minute City and to reshape Busan’s urban space in a way that reflects the city’s unique characteristics, thereby realizing a sustainable city.

□ [Establishment of the Director of Fiscal Affairs] To strengthen overall fiscal coordination functions—covering the budget, local taxes, and accounting—the City will establish the Director of Fiscal Affairs under the Planning and Coordination Office.

The City will reinforce functions for balanced budget planning and allocation within limited financial resources and build a dedicated organization to oversee efforts to secure the soundness of municipal finances. With the establishment of a dedicated fiscal advisory position to lead overall fiscal coordination, the City will further strengthen expertise by building closer cooperation with the central government and reinforcing responses to securing national funding.

In addition, the City will create a support department to build an integrated care system, thereby reinforcing areas closely related to citizens’ daily lives toward completing the Citizen Happiness City.

Mayor Park Heong-joon said, “Building on the achievements of our municipal administration so far, we intend to strengthen the administrative system so that Busan can make an even greater leap forward,” adding, “To complete a Citizen Happiness City that gives strength to each and every citizen, we will further concentrate our capabilities on enhancing the city’s stature and improving citizens’ quality of life.”