“Korea Development Bank and Gadeok New Airport Quickly to Busan” … Park Hyung-jun, Mayor of Busan, Proposes to President Yoon

At the 1st Meeting of the President and 8th Civilian Governors, Tasks for the 'Local Era' Overflow

President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a commemorative photo with participants of the 1st meeting of the 8th term directly elected city and provincial governors at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the afternoon of the 8th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Park Hyung-jun, Mayor of Busan, directly proposed regional balanced development tasks such as the early construction of Gadeok New Airport and the relocation of the Korea Development Bank to Busan to President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Mayor Park attended a meeting between the president and the newly elected 8th term mayors and governors held at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, at 6 p.m. on the 8th, where he discussed various current issues with President Yoon and requested support.

The meeting was attended by President Yoon Suk-yeol, key officials from central government ministries, and 16 mayors and governors including Mayor Park Hyung-jun of Busan. Government policies, decentralization, national tasks for balanced development, and regional issues were broadly discussed.

At the meeting, following the announcement of the government’s economic policy direction by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho, Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min introduced the ‘Local Era Promotion Strategy,’ emphasizing fairness and common sense.

This demonstrated the new government’s strong commitment to decentralization and regional balanced development under the banner of the ‘Local Era.’

Mayor Park Hyung-jun has consistently argued that restructuring the country into a local-centered nation guaranteeing fair opportunities will become a new driving force for national development, and that strong authority must be guaranteed to local governments for this purpose. At this meeting, he also requested that local governments be allowed to take the lead.

He emphasized that attracting the 2030 Busan World Expo, linked with central government national tasks, is currently the fastest and most important strategy for regional balanced development.

Mayor Park proposed granting Busan the authority to take the lead in handling issues such as the early construction of Gadeokdo New Airport, a prerequisite for Expo hosting, and the redevelopment of the North Port, free from central government regulations.

Mayor Park Hyung-jun said, “With the promotion of the Korea Development Bank’s relocation, expectations for regional balanced development beyond the capital-centered growth through the relocation of public institutions are higher than ever,” adding, “We expect the president’s continued interest and active support from the new government regarding the relocation of the Korea Development Bank to make Busan a financial city comparable to the capital area.”

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