Busan City reorganizes administration, establishes Maritime Capital Strategy Office to support mayor's pledge

Busan City is set to undergo a significant administrative overhaul, highlighted by the establishment of a new Maritime Capital Strategy Office. This move is designed to bolster Mayor Jeon Jae-soo's flagship pledge to transform Busan into a leading maritime hub. The reorganization will also introduce four new divisions concentrating on youth, public welfare, and economic initiatives.

The proposed changes, outlined in a revised ordinance for the establishment of administrative organizations and personnel, will be submitted to the Busan City Council for approval next month. The plan includes the creation of 13 new departments and the abolition of 15 existing ones, while maintaining the overall number of divisions. The Maritime Capital Strategy Office, to be led by a senior official, will absorb three departments from the current Maritime, Agriculture, and Fisheries Bureau and integrate three newly created departments focused on Arctic routes, maritime industry, and maritime sales.

In a shift of focus, the Environmental and Water Policy Office will be dissolved, with its responsibilities divided between the Water Policy Bureau and the Climate, Environment, and Energy Bureau. The city is also establishing four new bureaus: Population Policy, AI Industry Innovation, Citizen Life, and Citizen Economy. These new bureaus reflect Mayor Jeon's commitment to prioritizing youth, public welfare, and economic development.

The Population Policy Bureau will tackle Busan's aging population and youth outflow, inheriting functions from the abolished Youth and Industry Bureau. The AI Industry Innovation Bureau aims to revitalize the city's industrial structure by integrating research and development with advanced industry policies. The Citizen Life Bureau will consolidate administrative services for daily life, including a new division focused on communication with civic groups, signaling an effort to bridge divides from previous administrations' policies.

To expedite key projects, 13 new departments will be created. Notably, the Balanced Growth Policy Office will handle initiatives such as the relocation of public institutions and regional integration. While 15 departments are being abolished, their functions will be transferred to other units, ensuring continuity. For instance, the 15-Minute City department, a key project of former Mayor Park Heong-joon, will have its duties continued by the Living Area Space Planning Department.