Busan regional talent retention initiatives

Busan and the Gyeongsangnam-do region are implementing various initiatives to retain local talent and counter the concentration of resources in the Seoul metropolitan area.

In August 2026, Busan Metropolitan City, Gyeongsangnam-do, and several national universities signed a memorandum of understanding with three Hanwha affiliates—Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Ocean, and Hanwha Engine. This alliance aims to connect core industries like aerospace, defense, and shipbuilding with local talent through undergraduate contract departments, master’s level quota systems, and joint R&D efforts.

Simultaneously, Busan has piloted a residential remote work support project. This program seeks to prevent talent outflow by allowing local professionals in fields such as AI, design, and development to work on projects for companies based in Seoul or overseas while remaining in Busan. The city intends to refine this model to transition short-term digital work into long-term employment opportunities.

In September 2026, the scope of regional cooperation expanded with the launch of the ‘Bu-Ul-Gyeong Wide-area Connection Project’ involving Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do. This initiative seeks to integrate the region into a single employment and living zone through a four-year, 12.5 billion won investment. The project is structured around three pillars: ‘Talent Connection’ to help young professionals settle in regional industries, ‘Settlement Connection’ to support cross-regional commuting, and ‘Future Connection’ to train specialists for the artificial intelligence (AX) transition and supply chain cooperation.

During the 4th Bu-Ul-Gyeong Policy Council, leaders further detailed the ‘Bu-Ul-Gyeong Gwangyeok-Ieum’ (Super-regional Connection) project. Supported by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the initiative aims to break down administrative barriers through commuting subsidies, youth settlement support, and specialized AI-driven manufacturing training. Additionally, the regions plan to coordinate on large-scale infrastructure, including the Busan-Yangsan-Ulsan and Southeast Coast circular railways, to strengthen collective competitiveness.