Overview

• President Lee formally committed to relocating the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and affiliated agencies to Busan, though he acknowledged the move may not occur before year-end.
• He outlined plans for a southeastern megacity uniting Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province to exploit their combined port and logistics strengths.
• Lee called on local officials and industry leaders to ready Busan’s infrastructure as a Northeast Asian logistics hub for anticipated Arctic shipping routes.
• The town hall at Pukyong National University marked Lee’s first visit to Busan since his election and featured interactive dialogue with around 200 residents.
• The relocation pledge forms part of Lee’s broader effort to decentralize government functions from Seoul and bolster regional growth.