이원주
| 2026-03-23 14:26:25
Busan mayor-protest
Mayor shaves head in protest over special bill for Busan stalled at parliamentary committee
SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, seeking a third term in the June 3 local elections, shaved his head in front of the National Assembly on Monday, calling for the swift passage of a special bill aimed at transforming the southeastern port city of Busan into a global hub.
The proposed "Special Act on the Development of Busan as a Global Hub City" seeks to introduce regulatory and tax incentives to foster Busan as a key hub centered on logistics, finance and other industries. The bill has remained pending at a parliamentary committee for nearly two years since it was reintroduced in May 2024 after being scrapped at the end of the previous Assembly term.
"While the special acts for Gangwon and North Jeolla provinces were passed immediately after public hearings were held last week, the bill on Busan was left out," he told reporters after shaving his head. "This is regional discrimination."
His move came after two special bills on the development of other provinces -- North Jeolla Province and Gangwon Province -- were recently passed during a subcommittee meeting of the Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee.
Park stressed that if the proposed legislation is enacted, Busan will have the opportunity to leap forward as an international business hub, like Singapore or Hong Kong.
He also criticized lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party for "promising to turn Busan into a global maritime hub" and then "holding back" the future of the city.
"My term is almost over, and I will not be able to face the people of Busan if the bill is not passed this time," he said.
Park will face first-term lawmaker Rep. Joo Jin-woo in a primary to determine the main opposition People Power Party's candidate for the Busan mayoral race.
(END)
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]