Nation's First Special Local Government 'Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union Charter' Passed

On the 15th, Approved at the 229th Ulsan City Council Plenary Session

"Will Achieve Successful Balanced Development Reflecting the Aspirations of Bu-Ul-Gyeong City and Province Residents"

Ulsan City Hall.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] The "Busan·Ulsan·Gyeongnam Special Union Agreement" passed the 229th Ulsan City Council plenary session held at 10 a.m. on the 15th.

The agreement passed that day is the result of continuous discussions and consensus among Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam to establish the basic norms for the organization and operation of the Busan·Ulsan·Gyeongnam Special Union (hereinafter referred to as the "Special Union"). It underwent an administrative notice period collecting public opinions for 20 days from March 18 to April 7.

On the 13th, the Busan City Council approved the agreement, and after the Gyeongnam Provincial Council approves it on the afternoon of the 15th, a request for approval will be submitted to the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. After the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's approval and the notification procedures of the three cities and provinces are completed, the agreement will be enforced.

Starting operations from January 1 next year, the Busan·Ulsan·Gyeongnam Special Union will carry out transferred tasks of the constituent local governments, including establishing a super-regional public transportation network, building a super-regional carbon-neutral industrial base and hydrogen economy zone, fostering a super-regional eco-friendly shipbuilding industry, developing a super-regional automobile industry, and establishing a super-regional regional innovation platform.

Additionally, it will perform tasks delegated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, such as metropolitan area wide transportation management, establishment and operation of a wide-area trunk express bus system, and designation of general logistics complexes spanning two or more cities and provinces.

The Special Union, the first special local government established nationwide, was promoted to overcome unprecedented population outflow and regional economic stagnation in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam amid the intensifying regional imbalance caused by accelerated concentration in the metropolitan area.

Ulsan City expects that by forming a single living economic zone centered on the hub cities of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam to create the Busan·Ulsan·Gyeongnam Mega City, regional competitiveness will be strengthened and it will be the first step toward leaping into one of the eight mega cities in Northeast Asia.

A city official said, "Once the Special Union is established, Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam will create new growth engines through mutual cooperation and competition, making cities where young people want to live," adding, "We will do our best to overcome the unipolar system of the metropolitan area and achieve national balanced development."

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