Two Voices Within the People Power Party Surrounding the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union... "Pushed Hastily as if Chased, Now Demanding Compliance"

About 10 Members Including the People Power Party Gyeongnam Provincial Party Floor Leader Defend Gyeongnam Province

About 10 members of the People Power Party in the Gyeongnam Provincial Council have come forward to support the administrative integration plan proposed by Gyeongnam Province instead of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union.
[Image source=Gyeongnam Provincial Council]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] People Power Party members of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council have supported the administrative integration plan for Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (Buulgyung) proposed by Gyeongnam Province.

On the 23rd, about 10 members including Floor Leader Jo Young-je held a press conference at the provincial council and criticized the Buulgyung Special Union as a "hasty push."

According to them, on February 14, the 11th People Power Party provincial council members opposed the establishment of regulations that would serve as the basis for the Buulgyung special local government.

The reason was that it should be done after the formation of the 12th council, which would be the main body promoting the special union.

The members pointed out, "As if being chased by something, the result of forcibly passing the resolution with a majority at the end of the Moon Jae-in administration and the 7th local government is the current Buulgyung Special Union, an incomplete organization like a rooftop extension."

They continued, "As expected after its launch, there is no administrative or financial authority, let alone substance," adding, "It is clear that it will only bring enormous administrative costs such as a staggering budget of over 15 billion KRW and a manpower requirement of about 140 people, and it is full of regret that Gyeongnam Province is being forced to make even greater sacrifices."

"It is natural that the new provincial government and the provincial council review the contents and decide on implementation regarding this critical issue that determines Gyeongnam's fate for the next 100 years," they said, sharply criticizing, "It is absurd for departing members to unilaterally decide and then tell the council to comply because it has been decided."

The party members also said, "It is undesirable for the Democratic Party to indiscriminately criticize the administrative integration proposed as an alternative after the Gyeongnam Province's service results showed no practical benefits regarding the Buulgyung Special Union."

They sarcastically called it another case of "double standards" denying the administrative integration promoted by the previous Kim Kyung-soo administration.

The members emphasized, "The ultra-wide area regional government mentioned in the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's national agenda does not limit itself to a specific form such as a special union but includes various possibilities," adding, "Opposition for the sake of opposition should be restrained."

Finally, they urged, "Instead of obsessing over meaningless justifications, please make efforts for the residents by supporting this new big step to respond to the endless expansion of the metropolitan area," and "Even now, please join forces, look only to the residents, and cooperate so that Buulgyung can soar into the future."

They concluded, "The ultra-wide area cooperation of Buulgyung in response to the metropolitan area is absolutely necessary for future generations," and firmly stated that if necessary, a separate organization will be formed.

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