Mayor Jeon Jae-soo, Busan Party Chapter Chief Park Hong-bae attend
Discussions cover second-phase public institution relocation, timely opening of Gadeokdo New Airport
Busan Metropolitan Government and the Democratic Party of Korea's Busan chapter held a consultation meeting Wednesday to discuss pressing municipal issues and ways to secure state funding for next year. The meeting, held at 7:30 a.m. at Busan City Hotel in Yeonje-gu, brought together Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo, senior city aides, department and bureau heads, Busan Party Chapter Chairman Park Hong-bae and other party officials, including district chapter chiefs.
Participants agreed to build a standing cooperation system between the party and the city government to create change that residents can feel, and to make an all-out effort to resolve pending issues and secure state funding for next year.
The two sides focused their discussion on solutions to nine pressing issues, including the second-phase relocation of public institutions to the region, the timely opening of Gadeokdo New Airport, converting Chimnye Hospital into a public hospital, and establishing a safe drinking water supply system.
They also discussed ways to secure state funding for a total of 17 projects aimed at AI transformation, future R&D investment, and port and urban innovation. These include establishing a national quantum innovation center; building a physical AI-based total care AX platform linked to local care services; and creating a blockchain creative district. They also plan to build and operate a maritime and port AX demonstration center, and establish a next-generation power semiconductor production platform. Other projects include laying the groundwork for an AI-based biomaterial process innovation convergence support center, and advancing the AI transformation of the Busan Eco Delta City national pilot smart city. The list also includes a smart city specialized zone development project.
Park Hong-bae, chairman of the party's Busan chapter, said, "To firmly support the city's vision of becoming a maritime capital, we will carefully review the state funding tasks for 2027." He added, "We will actively secure the budget needed to accelerate long-awaited key projects and resolve any obstacles."
Park said, "The party and the city will move as one team and make an all-out effort for Busan's development and the lives of its residents without wavering."
In response, Mayor Jeon Jae-soo said, "The surest way to move beyond the Greater Seoul-centered structure and create a new growth axis for South Korea is to complete Busan's transformation into a maritime capital and lead a new era of maritime economy on the global stage." He added, "We are increasingly seeing results toward becoming the 'maritime capital of Busan,' as we continue to host major international maritime events such as the UN Ocean Conference and the World Congress of Port Cities."
Jeon added, "To create stronger tailwinds toward making Busan a maritime capital, I hope the city and the Democratic Party's Busan chapter will join hands to resolve Busan's long-standing issues and secure state funding for next year."
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