A political clash over the Busan Global Hub City Special Act is escalating into a full-blown confrontation. Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun shaved his head to protest the bill's failure to clear even a National Assembly standing committee, as the legislation remains stalled for over two years.
Political observers expect the battle between ruling and opposition mayoral candidates over the special act to intensify ahead of this year's local elections.
According to the Busan Metropolitan Government on the 23rd, Mayor Park held a press conference in front of the National Assembly building, demanding swift enactment of the Busan Global Hub City Special Act. About 30 attendees included People Power Party (PPP) leader Jang Dong-hyuk, PPP Busan chapter chairman Jeong Dong-man, regional lawmakers, and civic group representatives.
The press conference came in direct response to the Jeonbuk and Gangwon special acts passing the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee subcommittee, while the Busan bill was not even placed on the agenda. The city government raised strong concerns about fairness, stating, "It is difficult to accept that a bill that went through the same process two years ago has been excluded from discussion."
Earlier that morning, Mayor Park visited the National Assembly to meet with PPP leader Jang and other ruling party leadership. He explained the bill's strategic national significance and urged prompt action. Discussions reportedly focused on concerns over regional economic contraction caused by prolonged delays and the need for an institutional framework to develop Busan as a global logistics and financial hub.
At the press conference, Mayor Park said in his opening remarks, "The Global Hub City Special Act is the key legislation to elevate Busan into a world-class city like Singapore and Dubai. I cannot help but ask why this bill has failed to pass the National Assembly threshold for more than two years."
Party leader Jang, chairman Jeong, and civic group representatives also urged political action, saying, "This bill goes beyond a simple regional issue — it is directly tied to South Korea's future growth strategy." They emphasized the bill's urgency in terms of easing the Seoul-metropolitan concentration and achieving balanced national development.
The atmosphere reached its peak during the head-shaving ceremony. Mayor Park had his head shaved with the help of a civic group representative on the steps in front of the National Assembly's main gate. He said, "It is unacceptable that a bill that has even completed public hearings could not be brought to the subcommittee. The Democratic Party must stop discriminating against Busan and stop obstructing the Busan Development Special Act, which 1.6 million Busan citizens signed in support of."
He added, "The Busan Global Hub City Special Act is not just for Busan — it is a national strategy to create a new growth axis for South Korea. The National Assembly must promptly place the bill on the subcommittee agenda, deliberate, and complete the legislative process."
Political circles are watching whether this issue could expand beyond a simple legislative delay into a broader "regional development vs. political accountability" dynamic. Observers note the Global Hub City Special Act could emerge as a key campaign issue if ruling and opposition parties escalate their battle over Busan's development strategy ahead of the upcoming local elections. Mayor Park's head-shaving is widely interpreted as a powerful political message aimed at rallying regional public opinion, beyond merely pressuring the government.