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Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongsangnam-do Step Up Joint National Assembly Efforts to Secure Central Government Funding for Mega-Regional Cooperation Projects

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□ The Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongsangnam-do Mega-Regional Economic Alliance Promotion Headquarters, hereinafter the Promotion Headquarters, visited the National Assembly on September 18 to launch a joint parliamentary response aimed at securing central government funding for Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongsangnam-do mega-regional cooperation projects in 2027 and ensuring that key shared regional issues are reflected in central government policy.

○ The visit was a follow-up measure to convey to the National Assembly the cooperation initiatives jointly discussed by the three local governments at the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongsangnam-do Policy Consultative Meeting held on September 9 and to secure central government funding for their joint cooperation projects in the 2027 government budget proposal.

□ During the visit, the Promotion Headquarters called on the offices of lawmakers from Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongsangnam-do who serve on the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee and the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee. It explained the need for major projects jointly pursued by the three local governments and their significance for mega-regional cooperation and balanced regional development, and requested active interest and support during the National Assembly's review of the government budget proposal.

○ The major Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongsangnam-do cooperation projects seeking central government funding in 2027 comprise 15 projects totaling KRW 130 billion. Of these, the three local governments requested KRW 32 billion in central government funding for seven projects under the jurisdiction of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee and the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee.

□ The Promotion Headquarters also requested policy support for major cooperation initiatives jointly discussed by the three local governments at the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongsangnam-do Policy Consultative Meeting.

○ The key requests include passage of the preliminary feasibility study for the Southeast Region Circular Metropolitan Railway Construction Project, early commencement of the Busan-Yangsan-Ulsan Metropolitan Railway Construction Project, and inclusion of the Ulsan-Busan-Gadeokdo New Airport Metropolitan Railway Construction Project in the National Railway Network Plan.

○ In particular, the Promotion Headquarters emphasized that key priorities, including the expansion of the metropolitan transportation network and reinforcement of the industrial foundation, go beyond individual projects of each local government. It noted that these projects are intended to connect Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongsangnam-do into a single living and economic region and strengthen the foundation for shared growth across the Southeast Region.

□ Meanwhile, to secure stable funding for mega-regional cooperation projects and systematically respond to shared regional issues, the Promotion Headquarters has formed and is operating a Joint Response Team for Central Government Funding, centered on the heads of the planning and coordination offices of Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongsangnam-do. The three local governments are continuing coordinated efforts at each stage, from the government budget proposal process through National Assembly deliberations.

○ This year in particular, they plan to strengthen joint responses throughout the entire National Assembly review process by actively explaining the need for central government funding for each project from the standing committee stage onward and continuing coordinated efforts through review by the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, thereby increasing the likelihood of securing central government funding for major mega-regional cooperation projects.

□ Kim Jeong-su, head of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongsangnam-do Mega-Regional Economic Alliance Promotion Headquarters, said, "Securing central government funding for joint projects among Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongsangnam-do goes beyond individual projects of each local government. It is about laying the foundation for strengthening the competitiveness of the entire Southeast Region. Until the government budget is finalized by the National Assembly, we will work closely with local lawmakers and central government ministries and make every effort to ensure that projects jointly identified and pursued by Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongsangnam-do are reflected as fully as possible in the government budget and policies."

□ He added, "We will further strengthen joint action and cooperation among the three local governments so that Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongsangnam-do can grow together as a single living and economic region."