On October 23, Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon took the drastic step of shaving his head in front of the National Assembly to demand the passage of the ‘Busan Global Hub City Special Law.’ He expressed frustration over the fact that similar laws have been enacted for other regions, such as Jeonbuk and Gangwon, while Busan remains excluded. He argued that this exclusion is a form of discrimination against Busan. Mayor Park emphasized the importance of this legislative push by pointing out that without it, the potential development of Busan could significantly lag behind cities like Singapore and Dubai.

The proposed special law is designed to transform Busan into a logistics, finance, and digital center in the southern region of Korea through regulatory innovations and tax support. Since being introduced nearly two years ago, the bill has been stalled in the National Assembly’s Administrative Safety Committee. During his press conference, Park noted that while he has previously been skeptical of self-harming political acts, he has realized that strong measures are necessary when facing political contention—in this case, the failure to process legislation crucial for Busan's development.

Park's efforts drew support from various local legislators who attended the head-shaving event. He stressed the urgency of passing the law before the end of his term, indicating that he would not be able to face the citizens of Busan if the bill fails to progress. In response to his actions, the leader of the ruling People Power Party acknowledged the importance of the law for the future of South Korea, affirming the party's commitment to ensure its processing, highlighting a collective acknowledgment of the potential benefits of the legislation for the entire nation.