Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam are working together to establish a unified employment and living zone that transcends administrative boundaries. The initiative aims to support long-term employment for local youth and attract external talent while enhancing job connectivity across the region through integrated commuting and employment services.
On September 8, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced the launch of the 'Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Regional Connection Project' at BEXCO in Busan, in collaboration with the cities of Busan and Ulsan and Gyeongnam Province.
The Regional Connection Project is designed to prevent population outflow and promote the influx of new residents by creating a job ecosystem that spans administrative districts. Regional governments will jointly utilize resources to support job initiatives centered around strategic industries over several years.
This year, the project will focus on three regions, including Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, and the Chungcheong area.
The Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Regional Connection Project will be implemented through three main pillars: 'Talent Connection,' 'Residential Connection,' and 'Future Connection.'
'Talent Connection' focuses on supporting the influx of external youth and the long-term employment of local youth. 'Residential Connection' aims to facilitate commuting across regions and provide integrated employment services, linking Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam into a single employment and living area.
'Future Connection' will support the competitiveness of local businesses and talent development. It will promote a '3T Cooperation Partnership' for joint research and development and supply chain collaboration among companies, as well as train key talent for the manufacturing sector's transition to artificial intelligence (AI) through the 'MEGA-AX' initiative.
On the same day at BEXCO, the 'Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Job Fair' was held, connecting job seekers with companies in the region's key industries, including shipbuilding, automotive, and machinery parts, providing employment opportunities for local youth and regional commuters.
Coinciding with the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan, the '2026 Marine and Fisheries Job Fair' also opened at the same venue. Local manufacturing companies and marine and fisheries enterprises participated to recruit job seekers.
Vice Minister of Labor Kwon Chang-jun stated, 'The port of Busan, the industry of Ulsan, and the manufacturing base of Gyeongnam have long supported each other as an economic community in the southeastern region. Through the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Regional Connection Project, we hope to overcome administrative and geographical limitations, consolidate regional resources into a single living and employment zone, and create quality jobs.'
He added, 'We will spare no effort to continuously create quality jobs for youth in the region's key industries, including shipbuilding, automotive, machinery parts manufacturing, and emerging marine and fisheries sectors.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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