The Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Alliance, also known as the Mega City, has been officially abolished after the resolution passed in the plenary session of the Busan City Council. The vote took place on February 8th and resulted in 39 council members voting in favor of the resolution, with two members from the Democratic Party of Korea voting against and three members abstaining.
The special alliance, formed in 2020, was intended to promote balanced development in the region. However, after the local elections in June 2022, Gyeongnam and Ulsan reversed the agreement and opted to form a new regional economic alliance instead. The abolishment of the Mega City was supported by the People’s Power party, while the Democratic Party of Busan criticized the decision, calling it a breaking of promises made by the Yoon Seok-yeol government and Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon.
During the debate, arguments were made for and against the abolition of the Mega City. Councilor Ban Sun-ho argued that the Mega City was a key component of the country’s balanced development, while Councilor Choi Young-jin countered that it would be difficult to launch the alliance effectively without causing regional conflicts. The Democratic Party of Busan held a press conference, claiming that the promises made by President Yoon and Busan Mayor Park were merely election slogans.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety must now approve and notify the resolution for it to become official. The future of the region remains uncertain, but the abolishment of the Mega City marks a significant change in the plans for regional development.
