Gyeongnam Governor Park Wansu: "Administrative Integration Is the True Path to Establishing the '5 Poles 3 Specials' System"

With the public discussion forums for the administrative integration of Busan and Gyeongnam having concluded last month, Gyeongnam Province Governor Park Wansu reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing administrative integration during a press briefing held on September 1.

Governor Park stated, "Ultimately, the decision on the administrative integration of Busan and Gyeongnam lies with the residents of both regions," adding, "A resident vote is essential in order to secure the identity of the integration."

"Now that the public discussion phase has ended, we will use its results to create a basic plan, conduct a public opinion survey among residents, and if the survey yields a positive response, we plan to submit a special bill to the National Assembly," he explained. "The timing and format of the resident vote will be determined through discussions between Busan and Gyeongnam."

Gyeongnam Province Governor Park Wansu is answering questions at a press briefing. Photo by Lee Seryoung

He also emphasized that the development of the five major metropolitan areas and three special autonomous provinces (the '5 Poles 3 Specials' strategy) and administrative integration-both proposed by the Lee Jaemyung administration as part of the national balanced growth strategy-are not fundamentally different.

He noted that the special metropolitan autonomous coalition, which was promoted by Kim Kyungsoo when he was the governor of Gyeongnam, was also a step toward administrative integration.

Governor Park said, "The '5 Poles 3 Specials' system refers to living zones, essentially megacities," and added, "Although there have not yet been concrete policy proposals for the '5 Poles 3 Specials,' I believe that moving directly toward administrative integration, rather than taking a roundabout approach through the formation of special local governments, is the true way to establish the '5 Poles 3 Specials' system."

He continued, "If Gyeongnam and Busan integrate in the first phase, Ulsan has also expressed its intention to join in the second phase," and added, "Uniting Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam as one region is the way to enhance local competitiveness and status."

Additionally, Governor Park stressed that the special law for administrative integration, which is targeted for enactment next year, must specify both the status of the integrated local government and the upgraded administrative functions of the new entity.

He stated, "If the integrated local government remains at the current level of Gyeongnam Province or Busan City, integration would be meaningless," adding, "It must be granted an elevated status compared to the present."

He further explained, "The integrated local government should have strengthened functions, including greater financial resources and authority," and noted, "The central government, which will hold the authority over integration, must actively propose these aspects to facilitate the integration of local governments."

A public discussion forum for the administrative integration of Busan and Gyeongnam is being held. Photo by Gyeongnam Province

Previously, the Busan-Gyeongnam Administrative Integration Public Discussion Committee concluded the public discussion process with the Gyeongnam Central Region Administrative Integration Public Forum, held at the Changwon Convention Center (CECO) on August 29.

Since July, the committee has held regional forums in eight locations-four in Busan and four in Gyeongnam-explaining the background and necessity of administrative integration and gathering opinions from experts and local residents in each area.

By the end of this year, the committee will submit a report to Gyeongnam Province and Busan City that includes a basic plan reflecting residents' opinions, regional deliberative forums, and the results of opinion polls with equal participation from residents of each area, thereby concluding its activities.

If a majority of residents express support for administrative integration in the resident vote, Gyeongnam Province and Busan City plan to accelerate efforts to enact a special law and promote administrative integration next year.

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