Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Buulgyeong)
Overview
Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Buulgyeong) refers to a mega-regional cooperative body aimed at strengthening regional competitiveness by integrating Busan Metropolitan City, Ulsan Metropolitan City, and South Gyeongsang Province into a single living and economic zone. In the 2020s, it emerged as a key strategy to respond to population decline and the crisis of local extinction, as well as to alleviate concentration in the Seoul Capital Area. Buulgyeong aims to create synergy through cooperation in various fields such as transportation, economy, culture, and environment, rather than simple administrative integration.
Main Content
Background and Necessity
Buulgyeong includes key cities in the southeastern region of South Korea, forming a vast economic zone with a population of approximately 8 million and a Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of about 300 trillion KRW. However, regional competitiveness has been weakening due to deepening concentration in the Seoul Capital Area, population aging, and changes in industrial structure. In response, the government announced the 'Buulgyeong Megacity' initiative in 2020, promoting regional development through broad administrative cooperation.
Key Areas of Cooperation
1. Transportation Infrastructure: Representative projects include the expansion of a metropolitan railway network (Buulgyeong Metropolitan Railway) connecting Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang Province, highway expansion, and the promotion of the Great Train Express (GTX) southeastern route. Additionally, establishing a logistics and transportation hub linking Busan Port, Ulsan Port, and Gimhae Airport is a core task.
2. Economy and Industry: Cooperation focuses on the digital transformation of traditional manufacturing industries such as shipbuilding, automobiles, and chemicals, as well as fostering new industries. The goal is to create a 'Southeastern Economic Belt' by combining the strengths of each region: Busan's finance and logistics, Ulsan's energy and shipbuilding, and South Gyeongsang Province's machinery and defense industries.
3. Culture and Tourism: Efforts include developing tourism products that link regional festivals such as the Busan International Film Festival, Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival, and Ulsan Whale Festival, as well as promoting marine tourism.
4. Environment and Disaster Management: This includes cooperation on managing the Nakdong River water system, joint responses to fine dust, and establishing disaster preparedness systems for typhoons and earthquakes.
Current Progress
In June 2023, Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang Province officially launched the 'Buulgyeong Mega-Regional Cooperation Council.' This council is co-chaired by the heads of the three local governments, operates a working-level consultative body, and regularly reviews cooperative tasks. In 2024, the 'Buulgyeong Development Comprehensive Plan' was established, presenting a roadmap through 2030. Major projects include the groundbreaking of the first phase of the Buulgyeong Metropolitan Railway (Busan~Yangsan~Ulsan), the creation of a southeastern startup hub, and joint tourism marketing.
Criticisms and Challenges
Some critics argue that Buulgyeong cooperation has not yielded tangible results. Issues such as coordinating interests among local governments with low fiscal independence, insufficient central government support, and low resident awareness have been pointed out. There are also concerns that if cooperation remains at the level of simple administrative collaboration, it will be difficult to function as a true megacity.
Latest Trends
In the second half of 2024, Buulgyeong declared a 'Mega-Regional Economic Community,' further strengthening cooperation. In January 2025, Busan City, Ulsan City, and South Gyeongsang Province jointly announced the 'Buulgyeong Future Vision 2035.' This vision includes leaping to a global economic zone with a population of 10 million, leading the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and achieving carbon neutrality. Additionally, in March 2025, the preliminary feasibility study for the first phase of the Buulgyeong Metropolitan Railway passed, putting the project on track. Meanwhile, in April 2025, statistics showed a slight slowdown in population decline in the Buulgyeong region, suggesting that cooperative policies are gradually showing effects. However, youth out-migration and aging remain serious challenges.
Related Topics
- [[Megacity]]
- [[Local Extinction]]
- [[Busan Metropolitan City]]
- [[Ulsan Metropolitan City]]
- [[South Gyeongsang Province]]
- [[Seoul Capital Area Concentration]]
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