Is the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union Virtually Collapsed? ... Busan Agrees to Gyeongnam's Proposed 'Administrative Integration,' What About Ulsan?

Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province is emphasizing the need for administrative integration of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam instead of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union. / Photo by Ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Gyeongsangnam-do has called the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) Special Union a "pointless superstructure" and advocated for administrative integration, putting the Bu-Ul-Gyeong Special Union, scheduled to launch on January 1 next year, at risk of being effectively canceled.

On the 19th, Gyeongsangnam-do held a press conference to announce the results of a research project conducted by the Gyeongnam Research Institute from July to August on the effectiveness of the Bu-Ul-Gyeong Special Union.

The research project aimed to review from Gyeongsangnam-do’s perspective issues such as ▲lack of support from current laws ▲administrative and financial support systems ▲the pros and cons of promoting the Special Union, and to devise the optimal alternative.

The province dismissed the results of the project by stating, "While a response to the metropolitan area is necessary, the Special Union has no practical benefits."

The positive functions of the Bu-Ul-Gyeong Special Union revealed by the research were explained as ▲enhancing the feasibility of realizing a one-hour living zone in Bu-Ul-Gyeong through the incorporation of national transportation network plans such as the 4th National Railroad Network Plan, the 4th Metropolitan Area Wide Transportation Implementation Plan, and the 2nd Expressway Construction Plan.

However, the province said even these positive functions were "an incomplete plan including only Gimhae and Yangsan adjacent to Busan and Ulsan, not the entire Gyeongsangnam-do," and that it was a national plan that would inevitably be realized even without the Special Union.

It added, "The plan was established focusing on the development of Busan and Ulsan, excluding western Gyeongsangnam-do, with no consideration for balanced development of Gyeongsangnam-do."

The negative functions cited were ▲concerns over the "straw effect" centered on Busan due to the expansion of the metropolitan transportation network ▲decline in the self-sustainability and competitiveness of Gyeongsangnam-do’s 4th industrial sector ▲marginalization of western Gyeongsangnam-do ▲inevitable additional costs such as financial expenditures and personnel dispatch for operating the Special Union.

Gyeongsangnam-do announced the results of a research project on the effectiveness of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union. Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

Ha Jongmok, Director of Planning and Coordination, who briefed the press, said, "We are not opposing Bu-Ul-Gyeong cooperation but hope for mutual development through genuine integration."

He continued, "The fundamental purpose of Bu-Ul-Gyeong cooperation is to overcome concentration in the metropolitan area and achieve balanced regional development," and argued, "We should move toward realizing the largest local government in the southeastern region based on the characteristics and competitiveness of each area."

Governor Park Wan-su emphasized, "The Bu-Ul-Gyeong Special Union, implemented without legal support such as financial aid or delegation of national affairs, is meaningless," and added, "Administrative integration is necessary to overcome the local crisis."

He also said, "Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun has expressed agreement regarding Bu-Ul-Gyeong administrative integration," and stated, "If Ulsan does not agree, we will pursue administrative integration with Busan."

That afternoon, Busan City expressed its position, saying, "If Bu-Ul-Gyeong can achieve administrative integration, we will actively accept and negotiate."

The city issued a statement indicating that if the governors of Gyeongsangnam-do and Ulsan agree, Busan City will immediately begin discussions.

Gyeongsangnam-do plans to initiate administrative procedures such as consultations with local councils and resident referendums under Article 5 of the current Local Autonomy Act and push for the enactment of a special law to establish the tentative Bu-Ul-Gyeong Special Autonomous Province once Ulsan’s consent is obtained.

Subsequently, in the 2026 9th nationwide simultaneous local elections, an integrated local government head will be elected, the integrated special autonomous province will launch in the 9th local government term, and efforts toward the integrated promotion of the 2030 Busan World Expo are also anticipated.

Governor Park said, "I do not intend to consider a special local government until the end of my term and will focus solely on integration."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.