Busan City Hosts Public Hearing for "2030 Busan Urban Industrial Area Basic Plan"

Busan Metropolitan City is set to host a public hearing today to gather feedback on the draft of the "2030 Busan Urban Industrial Area Basic Plan." The hearing, which will take place at 3 pm on the first floor of City Hall, aims to gather input from experts and citizens on the proposed plan, which aims to revitalize and manage urban industrial areas in Busan.

The draft plan for the "2030 Busan Urban Industrial Area Basic Plan" was crafted based on the "Special Act on the Management and Revitalization of Urban Industrial Areas" enacted in 2021. The Act mandates the establishment of a basic policy for national industrial areas and requires mayors and county governors to create a basic plan for industrial areas under their jurisdiction.

This marks the first time a city in Korea has initiated a basic plan for its urban industrial areas. The proposed plan covers approximately 21.85 square kilometers of industrial areas in Busan, but excludes other areas managed under different regulations, such as industrial complexes, free economic zones, and port areas.

The "2030 Busan Urban Industrial Area Basic Plan" outlines comprehensive management and revitalization directions for urban industrial areas, including management guidelines for each type of industrial area, the designation of industrial maintenance zones and industrial innovation zones, and the planning of supporting infrastructure.

Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun expressed optimism that the basic plan would breathe new life into the old urban industrial area and contribute to the role of Busan's industrial areas as a regional economic base in the future.

In addition to the proposed basic plan, the city has partnered with Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH) to designate two schools in the Sasang-gu district as an industrial innovation zone and minimum location regulation zone (an area designated for specific purposes). This will enable the construction of an elastic material research institute, and the city plans to attract worker support housing, start-up support facilities, and campus innovation centers to foster the growth of the region.

The Special Act on the Management and Revitalization of Urban Industrial Areas aims to create an integrated urban management plan that can optimize the potential for growth of industrial areas in cities and convert them into hubs for innovation. It recognizes the vital role of industrial zones in the development and job market of urban areas, but also acknowledges their current lack of zoning-level management and policy support. This has resulted in substandard working conditions, which undermine industrial competitiveness.

To tackle these problems, the Act proposes establishing a national policy for industrial areas, a basic plan categorized by industrial area type, and the identification and construction of industrial innovation zones and other zones aimed at maintaining industrial areas. It also urges the creation of regional vitality centers with combined functions to offer a complete legal foundation for enhancing urban competitiveness.

The Act also aims to establish a legal basis for pilot projects, a comprehensive database on industrial areas, and an industrial area management support organization in order to visualize and spread the results of regional vitality bases. Additionally, the Act simplifies procedures for designating industrial area basic plans and industrial area maintenance zones and provides funds and financial support to maximize the effectiveness of revitalizing urban industries and creating jobs.

The "2030 Busan Urban Industrial Area Basic Plan" and the efforts to revitalize industrial areas in Busan reflect the city's commitment to sustainable economic growth and development.