South Gyeongsang, South Jeolla and Busan push for South Coast development law by year's end

South Gyeongsang Province, South Jeolla Province and Busan joined forces Wednesday to call for passage of a special act on South Coast development before the end of the year, urging the National Assembly to act on overlapping regulations that have long stifled growth in the region.

The three local governments co-hosted the second forum on the South Coast Development Special Act at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul on Wednesday, pressing lawmakers and the central government on the need for the legislation.

About 180 people attended, including South Gyeongsang Province Deputy Governor Park Il-ung, lead bill sponsors Assembly members Jeong Jeom-sik and Moon Geum-ju, officials from the three local governments, and residents. Participants rallied around the theme "Regional proposals for South Coast development, backed by the nation!" and reaffirmed their commitment to a coordinated push for passage of the bill this year.

The South Coast region is home to key national strategic industries — shipbuilding, defense, space and aerospace, and port logistics — as well as rich marine tourism resources. Yet overlapping restrictions, including marine fishery resource protection zones and conservation forest designations, have deterred private investment and severely limited development and economic activity. The three governments have been working together to establish a broad regional economic zone and build an institutional framework to support it.

"The South Coast has strong potential to become a new engine of national economic growth if its industries, tourism and logistics are properly linked," Deputy Governor Park said. "Easing overlapping regulations and securing legal and fiscal support at the national level are essential to attract corporate investment and create jobs."

Kang Hyeon-su, former head of the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, delivered the keynote address, calling for regulatory reform, meaningful special exemptions and national fiscal support. A panel discussion followed, covering governance frameworks for wide-area development and tailored support measures for the region.

The bill currently before the National Assembly includes provisions for easing overlapping regulations, establishing a special account, providing fiscal support and setting up a wide-area development governance structure. The three local governments plan to deepen their cooperation following the forum and continue lobbying efforts — including joint visits to the National Assembly and central government — with the goal of enacting the special act before year's end.