KB News Desk
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea on Wednesday passed a motion to set up a special committee to support Busan’s bid to host the 2028 United Nations Ocean Conference.
Speaking at the party’s Supreme Council meeting in Busan, where the motion was passed, Democratic Party leader Rep. Kim Min-seok pledged that the party will throw its full weight behind the bid.
“The 2028 UN Ocean Conference is an event on a larger scale than APEC and (the party) will do its utmost to ensure that (the event) becomes a turning point in Busan’s transformation into Korea’s maritime capital, and a maritime hub of Asia,” Kim said.
Ahead of the Supreme Council’s decision, Kim met with Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo and pledged support for the bid, requesting that Chun make recommendations for the committee chair, describing the bid as a national undertaking.
During the meeting, Chun also sought the party’s support for a proposed domed arena in Busan, describing it as one of the city’s most pressing development projects.
Kim said the party was prepared to discuss ways to move the project forward if the city concludes such an arena is necessary.
“If you determine definitively that Busan needs a dome arena, we will discuss plans to make it a reality,” Kim said, adding that he would reach out to national and local lawmakers to seek cooperation.
Kim also acknowledged the Democratic Party’s limited representation in Busan, saying the party organization would seek to compensate by providing as much political support as possible to the city administration.
All 18 National Assembly seats representing Busan are currently held by the main opposition People Power Party. The conservative party also controls 37 of the 48 seats on the Busan Metropolitan Council.
