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Government Budget Proposal Includes Numerous Priority Projects to Complete Busan as a Maritime Capital

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that numerous key city projects aimed at realizing the vision of “Leading Tomorrow’s Transformation, Maritime Capital Busan” have been included in the “2027 Government Budget Proposal” announced today, September 1, by the Ministry of Planning and Budget.

The government proposal broadly includes projects designed to achieve the four city goals of Busan Metropolitan City’s 9th popularly elected administration: “Maritime Capital Connecting the World,” “Innovative Economy Driving the Future,” “Thriving Communities through Balanced Growth,” and “Healthy and Happy City for All.”

This is regarded as the result of Busan Metropolitan City mobilizing its administrative capabilities from the outset of the 9th popularly elected administration by aligning its new city vision and goals with national policy and budget priorities, establishing a strong rationale for central government funding for each project, and having Mayor Chun Jae-soo personally request national funding support from the Minister of Planning and Budget.

First, future-oriented industries and major ongoing projects were evenly represented in the areas of “Maritime Capital Connecting the World,” which seeks to expand Busan’s maritime competitiveness into a national growth engine, and “Innovative Economy Driving the Future,” which aims to transform the industrial structure and create quality jobs.

[Maritime Capital Connecting the World] The Gadeokdo New Airport Construction Project (KRW 431.1 billion), which will serve as a gateway airport and logistics hub for southern Korea, was included in the proposal. Newly included projects also include the Port Autonomous Cargo-Handling Equipment AX Demonstration Project (KRW 7.35 billion), aimed at establishing a physical artificial intelligence ecosystem at the Port of Busan, and the Shipbuilding-Shipping Mutual Growth Cooperation Support Project (KRW 3.64 billion), designed to promote mutually beneficial growth between the shipbuilding and shipping industries. The project to strengthen the global competitiveness of naval vessel MRO for small and medium-sized shipbuilders (KRW 5 billion) was also included. In addition, the Fisheries Food Industry Cluster Development Project (KRW 24.9 billion) will move into full-scale implementation, further strengthening Busan’s competitiveness across the port, shipbuilding, shipping, and fisheries sectors.

[Innovative Economy Driving the Future] The proposal includes the Development of Large Fuselage Technology for Next-Generation Aircraft Based on Domestic Composite Materials (KRW 2 billion), which will secure technologies for the design, manufacturing, and verification of large fuselages for next-generation aircraft, as well as the Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing Infrastructure Development Project for Extreme and Polar Industries (KRW 3.5 billion), aimed at advancing Busan as a hub for power semiconductors. It also includes Development and Demonstration of a New Research Reactor for Export (KRW 152.8 billion) and support for the construction of a Heavy Ion Accelerator (KRW 8.5 billion) to ensure their timely completion, along with the establishment of an Advanced Regenerative Medicine Clinical Demonstration Support Platform (KRW 3.1 billion) to enable construction to begin on schedule. These projects are expected to accelerate the development of future industrial ecosystems spanning aerospace, power semiconductors, radiation medicine, and biotechnology.

The proposal also includes numerous projects under “Thriving Communities through Balanced Growth,” which focuses on improving connectivity and living conditions throughout the city, and “Healthy and Happy City for All,” which aims to ensure that every citizen can enjoy a healthy and happy daily life.

[Thriving Communities through Balanced Growth] The proposal includes construction of the Sasang–Hadan Urban Railway Line (KRW 16.35 billion), a key public transportation network in western Busan; construction of Eomgung Bridge (KRW 25.95 billion), which will expand transportation links across the Nakdong River; construction of Seunghak Tunnel (KRW 11.86 billion), which will ease traffic congestion in western Busan and Yeongdo-gu; and construction of the road between Busan Bridge and Dongsam Innovation City (KRW 7 billion). Urban regeneration projects in nine areas, including the Sujeong District (KRW 25.62 billion), were also included, laying the foundation for balanced growth and improved quality of life throughout the city.

[Healthy and Happy City for All] The proposal includes construction of the Busan Children’s Hospital (KRW 10 billion), which will address gaps in essential medical care for children and adolescents; establishment of MyData-based smart senior centers (KRW 2.1 billion), which will support health management and communication for older adults through data and technology; and development of a community-based healthcare platform using AgeTech (KRW 1.89 billion). It also includes a project to develop the Amisan sunset landscape into a tourism attraction (KRW 2.3 billion), as well as the replacement and maintenance of eco-friendly vessels for Nakdong River ecological tour boats (KRW 1.9 billion). These projects are expected to strengthen lifelong care and healthcare services from childhood through old age while further accelerating improvements to the city’s tourism and leisure environment.

Busan Metropolitan City plans to continue actively making the case for the inclusion of national funding during the National Assembly’s budget review process while further strengthening cooperation with members of the National Assembly.

In line with the National Assembly’s budget review schedule, the city will also operate a permanent liaison team at the National Assembly. Until the review process concludes at the end of the year, the city will make every effort to safeguard the funding secured in the government proposal and ensure that projects requiring additional funding are reflected during the National Assembly’s deliberations.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “The inclusion of these projects in the government proposal marks an important starting point for transforming Busan into a new growth engine for the Republic of Korea while bringing meaningful change to both Busan’s industries and the daily lives of its citizens. During the National Assembly’s budget review process, we will work until the very end to secure the additional projects and funding Busan needs and realize our vision of ‘Leading Tomorrow’s Transformation, Maritime Capital Busan.’”