# Buan County governance and development disputes

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/buan-county-governance-and-development-disputes
> Updated: 2026-09-21T02:43:39.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 3.

Buan County has entered a period of administrative and political tension regarding budget management and regional development goals.

Following the conclusion of the 374th regular session of the Buan County Council, where a revised supplementary budget of approximately 935.1 billion KRW was approved, tensions emerged between the executive and legislative branches. Mayor Kwon Ik-hyeon faced criticism from the Council for allegedly disregarding legislative authority after requesting the reinstatement of budget items that had been cut during deliberations. The Council ultimately upheld its decision to reject those funds.

On the development front, the Council and the Mayor are actively lobbying the central government for regional interests. Key priorities include the jurisdiction of the Saemangeum New Port, the relocation of Korea South-West Power headquarters to the region, and infrastructure projects such as terminal remodeling and carbon-neutral experience centers. Additionally, local leaders are seeking better compensation for Buan Dam residents, protection for soybean farmers, and improved marine waste management in southwestern waters.

In a recent effort to secure future growth, Mayor Kwon visited the National Assembly to advocate for the inclusion of Saemangeum-related infrastructure and power company relocations in the 2027 national budget.

Parallel to these political efforts, the county has announced a 150 billion KRW urban development project following approval from the Jeonbuk State Council. Managed by the Jeonbuk Development Corporation, the project will cover approximately 240,000 square meters in Buan-eup and Haengan-myeon. The initiative aims to create a planned residential district with housing, roads, and parks to support youth, newlyweds, and workers attracted by Saemangeum development. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2029, with a target completion date of 2031.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-21: Buan County launches 150 billion KRW urban development project

Buan County is launching a 150 billion KRW urban development project in Buan-eup and Haengan-myeon to create residential hubs and support regional growth through 2031.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/buan-county-launches-150-billion-krw-urban-development-project

### 2026-09-13: Buan County faces political tension over budget and development

Buan County faces political friction as Mayor Kwon Ik-hyeon and the County Council clash over budget decisions while both entities lobby the central government for regional development and Saemangeum projects.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/buan-county-faces-political-tension-over-budget-and-development

### 2026-09-10: Buan County targets top performance rankings and concludes council session

Buan County is targeting top performance in upcoming government evaluations while its local council concludes a session focused on budget approvals and regional development issues.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/buan-county-targets-top-performance-rankings-and-concludes-council-session

---
Cite as: Buan County governance and development disputes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/buan-county-governance-and-development-disputes