Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam Region Launches Permanent Super-Regional Cooperation Council: “One Economic and Living Zone”

[Financial News] The mayors of Busan and Ulsan and the governor of South Gyeongsang Province met in Busan for the first time since the launch of their respective ninth elected administrations to discuss plans for super-regional cooperation.
Busan City announced on the 8th that it held the fourth Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam Policy Council meeting at The Westin Josun Busan together with Ulsan Metropolitan City and South Gyeongsang Province.
The meeting was attended by Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo, Ulsan Metropolitan City Mayor Kim Sang-wook, South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su, and about 30 senior officials from the three local governments.
At the meeting, which was held behind closed doors except for the opening remarks, the three leaders adopted the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam Super-Regional Cooperation Joint Declaration.
Under the declaration, the three local governments agreed to operate a permanent consultative body, establish a roadmap for implementation, jointly formulate a super-regional development strategy and a growth-engine strategy under the Five Mega-Regions and Three Special Self-Governing Provinces Policy, coordinate their response to the second relocation of public institutions, and make every effort to address key issues and secure national funding.
The super-regional development strategy discussed at the meeting presented 12 strategic tasks across three areas for creating “one Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam region,” where industry and daily life are connected and administration and finances move together. The core objectives are to connect industries, talent, investment foundations and facilities across the region, expand the industrial competitiveness of individual areas into economic strength for the entire region, and create a single living zone by linking major living hubs and jointly providing daily-life services.
In line with the central government’s Five Mega-Regions and Three Special Self-Governing Provinces Policy, which is expected to be formulated in the second half of this year, the three local governments will also seek anchor companies in four growth-engine sectors: advanced shipbuilding and shipping, innovative manufacturing for future mobility, aerospace and defense, and next-generation nuclear power and energy.
The Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam Joint Task Force for Securing National Funding will also be launched to respond to deliberations on the government’s budget proposal and the incorporation of projects into major national plans in the second half of this year. Key joint projects include the construction of the Southeastern Region Circular Metropolitan Railway, the Busan–Yangsan–Ulsan Metropolitan Railway, and the Chojeong–Hwamyeong Metropolitan Road; the establishment of a Metropolitan Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System; and the creation of a joint response system for a tourism belt in the southeastern region.
The three local governments also agreed to pool their capabilities to attract public institutions under the government’s second relocation initiative.
In his opening remarks, Mayor Chun said, "This policy council meeting marks a historic first step toward the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam region becoming another major growth axis of the Republic of Korea, comparable to the Seoul metropolitan area." He emphasized, "With the understanding that cooperation among Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province is itself a national survival strategy, we will join forces to connect the region’s industries and talent more closely and bring about changes that residents can feel."

[email protected] Kwon Byung-seok Reporter