Busan City Council holds special session, conducts first hearing under expanded public institution oversight

The Busan Metropolitan City Council announced Tuesday that it is holding its 340th extraordinary session — a one-day sitting — and conducting the first confirmation hearing for the head of a public institution under a newly reformed system in which standing committees take the lead in vetting candidates.

The council's Planning and Finance Committee opened a confirmation hearing for Shim Jae-woon, candidate for president of Busan Technopark, at 11 a.m. Tuesday. The hearing is the first since the 10th Busan City Council, at its 339th extraordinary session, expanded the pool of institutions subject to confirmation hearings from seven to all 22 public institutions under the city and split the vetting process between a special confirmation committee and the relevant standing committees based on each institution's characteristics.

The Planning and Finance Committee plans to closely examine whether Shim — a former head of the economic policy division at the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry — has the capacity to lead a major institution responsible for attracting national research and development projects and supporting local industry.

Hearings will continue Wednesday for Kim Hyeon-jun, candidate for chairman of the Busan Credit Guarantee Foundation, and Hwang Seon-ung, candidate for president of the Busan Economic Promotion Agency. On Oct. 6, the council will hold hearings for Kim Tae-ho, candidate for president of Busan Transportation Corporation, and Kim Myeong-su, candidate for chairman of Busan Facilities Corporation.

Before the Technopark hearing Tuesday, the council passed two ordinance amendments: one revising the rules on negotiating groups and committee composition to reflect the city's administrative restructuring in each standing committee's jurisdiction and to newly establish oversight of the mayor's secretariat; and another expanding the quota for advisory council members to 60.

The council also confirmed administrative audit plans submitted by each of its seven standing committees ahead of the audit to be conducted during the November regular session.

The council's next regular session — the 341st — will run for 43 days from Nov. 3 to Dec. 15, covering the 2026 administrative audit and review of the 2027 main budget, among other agenda items.