Full-Scale Start of Bu·Gyeong Administrative Integration: "Citizens' Opinions Are Most Important"

The 1st Meeting of the Administrative Integration Working Committee Held

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The administrative integration between Gyeongsangnam-do and Busan is expected to gain full momentum.

On the 15th, Gyeongnam Province announced that it held the first meeting of the Practical Promotion Committee for administrative integration.

Previously, the two local governments agreed to pursue administrative integration beyond the stage of a special local government entity to address the overconcentration in the metropolitan area and regional extinction.

According to the province, the Promotion Committee is an organization responsible for practical tasks related to administrative integration.

It will be in charge of negotiating integration procedures, providing related information to broaden consensus among the province and citizens, and collecting opinions.

The committee consists of eight members, including the Gyeongnam Provincial Policy Planning Officer, Busan City Administrative Autonomy Director, Gyeongnam External Cooperation Officer and staff, Busan Autonomy and Decentralization Division Chief, and the Head and staff of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Super Metropolitan Cooperation T/F team.

Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

At the meeting held at the provincial government office, discussions were held on ▲ sharing the operation schedule of the Practical Promotion Committee ▲ publicity to form consensus among the province and citizens ▲ timing and methods of public opinion surveys on integration.

The province stated that before forming the Practical Promotion Committee with Busan, five rounds of practical consultations and discussions were held to exchange opinions on procedures for promoting administrative integration, such as public opinion surveys and publicity plans.

Going forward, continuous consultations with Busan will be held to gather opinions from the province and citizens and proceed with the integration process.

Jang Jaehyeok, the provincial Policy Planning Officer, said, “The value pursued by integration is the pursuit of administrative efficiency through economies of scale and enhancing regional competitiveness to respond to metropolitan concentration, but the ultimate goal of wishing for a happy daily life for residents will be shared by both Gyeongnam and Busan. The most important thing is the opinions of the residents and citizens who can decide the place where they live.”

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