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A New Standard for Decentralized Administrative Integration in Korea: Proposal of a Special Act to Establish the Gyeongnam–Busan Integrated Special City

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that today (14th) at 10:30 a.m., the mayors/governors of Busan and Gyeongnam, along with members of the National Assembly, submitted the special bill at the National Assembly and held a press conference.

At the press conference, the mayors/governors of Busan and Gyeongnam attended, along with National Assembly Member Lee Seong-kwon, who introduced the bill, as well as National Assembly Members Cho Kyoung-tae and Park Soo-young from Busan, and Jung Jeom-sik and Choi Hyung-doo from Gyeongnam.

The proposed “Special Act on the Establishment of the Gyeongnam–Busan Integrated Special City and the Creation of an Economic and Industrial Capital” was presented as a new standard for decentralized administrative integration in Korea.
It was explained that, as the regions could no longer afford to waste the golden time waiting solely for a response from the central government, the bill was prepared in line with the previously announced roadmap, with the aim of proposing to the government the essential autonomous powers required for integration targeted for 2028.
The autonomous powers included in the special act represent the minimum institutional framework necessary for region-led growth, and the bill reflects a firm commitment to advancing decentralized administrative integration.

The bill was jointly proposed by 28 lawmakers from Busan and Gyeongnam, led by National Assembly Member Lee Seong-kwon.
Its key provisions include unprecedented fiscal decentralization, securing autonomous legislative and organizational authority, maximizing autonomy in fiscal operations, full authority over attracting businesses and fostering industries, and the restoration of land use and regional development authority.

It was also stated that the supplementary provisions specify that the bill will take effect only after the will of residents in both regions is ultimately confirmed through a referendum.
Although the bill was proposed first in consideration of its urgency, the referendum will be conducted within the year as originally planned.

Mayor Park Heong-joon emphasized, “The decentralized administrative integration we have proposed this time is both a desperate appeal and a challenge for local regions to find their own path to survival,” adding, “We ask for the support and participation of our citizens in this grand journey toward bringing young people back and advancing as an economic and industrial capital capable of competing with the Seoul metropolitan area.”