Democratic Party Gyeongnam Provincial Party: "Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Alliance Must Be Restored"

Launch of the Special Committee for Promoting the Special Alliance

Kim Doo-kwan, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea's Gyeongnam Provincial Party Committee (center), is explaining the purpose of launching the Special Committee for the Promotion of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Alliance. / Photo by Ryeong Lee

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Democratic Party of Korea's Gyeongnam Provincial Party launched the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union Promotion Special Committee on the 20th.

At a press conference held at the Gyeongnam Provincial Office that day, Party Chairman Kim Doo-kwan criticized, "The withdrawal from the special union, which has been adopted as a national agenda from the Roh Moo-hyun administration to the current Yoon Seok-yeol administration, is an attempt to erase the policies of former Governor Kim Kyung-soo," adding, "The mayors and governors of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam have rejected the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Mega City."

He continued, "By creating the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union Promotion Special Committee, we will gain the support and consent of the citizens of the three cities and provinces so that the three mayors and governors can change their policies," he declared.

Co-Chairman Min Hong-chul stated, "We will work together with the residents until the end to overcome the unipolar system centered on the metropolitan area and protect the special union, which is an alternative for balanced national development."

According to the provincial party, the special committee is composed of about 40 members, including members of the National Assembly, current and former city and provincial council members, experts, professors, and figures from political and economic circles.

The committee members argued, "We must terminate the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam economic alliance, which has no legal or policy substance, and promptly restore the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam special union to its normal track."

They said, "Administrative integration means forming the metropolitan governments of Busan and Gyeongnam into a single local government," adding, "There is no feasibility due to issues such as the new name and location of the integrated local government, new organizational design, and its relationship with cities and counties."

They also stated, "A careful review is necessary on whether it is appropriate to eliminate the place names of Busan and Gyeongnam, which have a long history and unique socio-economic identity."

The special committee plans to hold a resolution rally for party members of the provincial party at Bongha Village in Gimhae on the 29th to condemn the suspension of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam special union.

In the future, they plan to expand the committee by collaborating with civic groups and hold discussions and public hearings to gather local opinions on the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam special union, administrative integration, and economic alliance.

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