Busan mayor holds 'first 100 days' forum with eastern industrial complex firms

Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo held a "first 100 days livelihood forum" with companies from eastern Busan industrial complexes Tuesday afternoon at the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities' Busan Vocational Capacity Development Institute in Gijang-gun.

The forum was organized to hear directly from businesses about their difficulties and to explore ways to strengthen the competitiveness of eastern Busan's industrial complexes and support corporate growth. About 20 company representatives attended, including Mayor Jeon, No Eung-beom, chairman of the Jeonggwan Industrial Complex Tenant Business Council, and Choe Sun-hwan, chairman of the Myeongnye General Industrial Complex Management Corporation.

Participants discussed a range of on-the-ground concerns aimed at supporting production activities and easing commuting difficulties for workers — among them, city gas supply to the Ori industrial complex, expanded commuter bus services, improvements to parking and traffic conditions at the Jeonggwan and Jangan complexes, and industrial water supply across eastern Busan's industrial zones.

Before the forum, Mayor Jeon visited BMT Co. in Jangan-eup, Gijang-gun, toured its production floor and met with executives and employees to hear their concerns and suggestions.

BMT, headquartered in Busan, is a specialist manufacturer of key components for the semiconductor, shipbuilding and eco-friendly energy sectors. Founded in 1988, the company relocated to Yangsan in 2009 before expanding back to Busan in 2023, making it a "Busan returnee company." It was designated a "Busan-type anchor company" in August in recognition of its technological competitiveness, growth potential and industrial ripple effects.

Meanwhile, Busan is pursuing a sweeping restructuring of its industrial complex tenant industry classification system — the first such overhaul nationwide in 46 years. Reflecting input from tenant companies, the city plans to expand the range of permitted industries by the end of next year according to a phased, sector-by-sector and zone-by-zone strategy, and to review each complex's functions and permitted industries every five years to improve the investment environment. The city is also pushing to build a youth culture center at Jeonggwan General Industrial Complex, equipped with a multipurpose cultural space, an indoor sports facility, shared offices and a support center.

"Creating an environment where companies can invest and grow is the same as building Busan's future," Mayor Jeon said. "We will actively address the regulations that hold businesses back and the inconveniences on the ground, and we will work alongside companies to forge a path where their challenges and investments can lead to even greater growth in Busan."