Administrative Notice of Abolition of Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union Agreement... Gyeongnam Province vs. Democratic Party Conflict Intensifies

Gyeongnam Provincial Government. / Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] On the 7th, as the three metropolitan local governments of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam administratively announced the ‘Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union Charter Abolition Draft,’ conflicts surrounding the dissolution of the special union continue.

On that day, Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam posted the abolition draft of the charter on their homepage notices, stating, “As a result of the agreement among the three cities and provinces of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, it was decided to transition the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union into a super-regional economic alliance, and therefore, the current charter has lost its effectiveness and is to be abolished.”

Gyeongnam Province plans to collect residents’ opinions on the abolition of the charter via mail, fax, and email until the 28th, review them, and decide whether to reflect them. If no opinions are received, the abolition draft will be finalized as per the administrative notice.

Democratic Party of Korea's Gyeongnam Provincial Party Special Union Normalization Promotion Task Force, including Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly member Han Sang-hyun, is advocating for the normalization of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union and the holding of a large-scale public debate for residents. / Photo by Lee Se-ryeong ryeong@

In response, on the morning of the 8th, Han Sang-hyun, a member of the Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly, and the Democratic Party’s Gyeongnam Provincial Party Special Union Normalization Promotion Committee held a press conference demanding the normalization of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union.

Assemblyman Han said, “The Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union is a product of rare bipartisan cooperation and effort,” and criticized, “Do not waste the golden time to prevent local extinction and build a megacity.”

He also argued, “Stopping the special union is a waste of energy and time, and it is being handled too hastily and hastily.”

He criticized, “Governor Park Wan-su supported the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act, which laid the foundation for establishing the special union, during his time as a member of the National Assembly. He did not oppose the special union during the local election period and expressed his intention to promote it after being elected, but declared withdrawal from the special union citing a hastily prepared research report last September.”

He urged, “Residents should be able to properly compare and understand the special union and administrative integration,” calling for a public debate on the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union.

Kim Yong-dae, Special Public Relations Advisor of Gyeongnam Province, is stating the province's position on the abolition of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union. / Photo by Ryeong Lee ryeong@

Immediately after the Democratic Party provincial party’s press conference, Kim Yong-dae, special public relations advisor at Gyeongnam Provincial Government, and others rebutted.

Special Advisor Kim said, “The full revision of the Local Autonomy Act is a historic amendment after 32 years aimed at improving local autonomy,” emphasizing, “It is inappropriate to limit and distort its meaning solely as a tool for establishing special unions.”

He explained, “It contains the purpose of strengthening local autonomy and improving the overall system, including the basis for establishing special local governments, independence of personnel authority of local councils, improvement of the resident audit request system, and establishment of the central-local cooperation council.”

Regarding the Democratic Party Gyeongnam Provincial Party’s claim that Governor Park Wan-su reversed his stance from supporting to opposing the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union, he stressed, “It is not true that he changed his position or opposed the special union.”

He said, “Agreeing to the law containing the basis for special local governments does not logically imply agreeing to all special unions among local governments,” adding, “The effectiveness of the system varies depending on the purpose, nature, and conditions of the constituent local governments, and it is a matter to be chosen according to the situation.”

He added, “The partial amendment of the Special Act on National Balanced Development also supports super-regional development plans,” and “The establishment of super-regional zones and super-regional development plans can be achieved through Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam consultations and the super-regional economic alliance.”

Special Advisor Kim presented past statements, saying, “Governor Park raised concerns about the effectiveness of the special union since his candidacy and maintained a consistent position during the transition team period that he would examine whether it benefits Gyeongnam and its residents.”

He also criticized, “Former Governor Kim Kyung-soo proposed administrative integration as a goal, but when Governor Park advocated integration, opposing or forming negative public opinion is a self-contradiction of the Democratic Party.”

Furthermore, he urged, “The Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union is a joint office among the three local governments, but there are no tasks delegated by the state, and only Gimhae and Yangsan adjacent to Busan and Ulsan are included in joint projects, which is insufficient for genuine balanced development,” and called on the Democratic Party provincial party to stop its political offensive advocating a special union that neglects western Gyeongnam.

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