This study analyzed the internal policy conflict within Gyeongsangnamdo that occurred during the pursuit of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongsangnamdo megacity(Bu-Ul-Gyeong megacity), based on the Policy Conflict Framework (PCF) proposed by Webile and Heikkila (...
This study analyzed the internal policy conflict within Gyeongsangnamdo that occurred during the pursuit of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongsangnamdo megacity(Bu-Ul-Gyeong megacity), based on the Policy Conflict Framework (PCF) proposed by Webile and Heikkila (2017). The results revealed that until the abandonment of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongsangnamdo megacity project, Regional Inequalities within Western Gyeongnam and Eastern Gyeongnam played a role as a crucial factor in the policy environment. These regional Inequalities acted as cognitive characteristics of Relative deprivation for policy actors, leading to behavioral characteristics such as the emergence of policy conflicts among key actors in Western and Eastern Gyeongnam. In particular, after Gyeongsangnamdo could no longer mediate the conflict when the vacant post of the governor of Gyeongsangnamdo, it expanded to discussions opposing the Megacity and the demanded to relocate the Gyeongsangnamdo provincial office back to Jinju. As a result, the conflict influenced the threat perceptions and resistance to compromise among policy actors. The cognitive and behavioral characteristics between Western and Eastern Gyeongnam faced with a transformation, intensifying the conflict. Furthermore, these shifts in positions were evident in the expressions and promises of candidates running for the 8th term in the Gyeongsangnamdo region. The significance of this study is conducting a PCF analysis of the Gyeongsangnamdo case, confirming the impact of internal conflicts from regional Inequalities on the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongsangnamdo megacity pursuit process. The study suggests that, for pursuing similar cases like the Megacity in future, effective management and resolution of policy conflicts rooted in regional disparities should be proactively addressed, offering valuable policy implications.