Ulsan progressive groups demand immediate withdrawal of ‘Super-Regional Special Zone Bill’

【Financial News, Ulsan = Reporter Choi Soo-sang】 Ulsan Citizens' Solidarity, Ulsan Women's Society, the Ulsan Regional Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Ulsan chapters of the Progressive Party and Justice Party, and other civic groups and political parties in the region held a joint press conference on the 10th, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the “Super-Regional Special Zone Bill.”
At the press conference, they described the bill as one that “would undermine the rights and institutions our community has safeguarded in the name of balanced regional development, and seeks to give special favors and privileges to specific chaebol and companies.” They strongly criticized company-specific favors justified by semiconductor investment, eased restrictions on holding companies’ equity investments, and the undermining of the principle separating finance and industry.
The civic groups warned that if the bill is passed, it would allow not only looser regulations on holding companies and public funding support, but also exceptions to the 52-hour workweek cap and extensions to the period fixed-term employees may be employed, seriously infringing on workers’ rights.
They also pointed out that special provisions for establishing medical institutions that leave open the possibility of for-profit hospitals, along with eased healthcare regulations, would push aside the expansion of urgently needed emergency, maternity and pediatric care for local residents, threatening patient safety and the public nature of healthcare.
Concerns were also raised about environmental destruction. They argued that, without measures to address the enormous power and water consumption of the semiconductor and AI industries, shortening environmental impact assessments and permitting procedures and even easing regulations on waste and hazardous chemicals would simply foist environmental harm on local communities amid the climate and biodiversity crises.
The press conference participants criticized the government and ruling party, saying they “are trying to force the bill through by the end of January next year.” They emphasized that the government cannot give companies carte blanche to bypass labor, healthcare, housing and environmental protections all at once for the sake of investment convenience.
They went on to say that “balanced regional development should be judged by how much residents’ lives have improved,” and urge the government and ruling party to stop trying to pass the bill wholesale and redraw policy to strengthen the foundations for local self-reliance.
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