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Busan News

Busan news, in-depth reporting, and editorial insights covering the city’s politics, economy, development, institutions, and social change.

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Reporting and analysis from Breeze in Busan

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This desk tracks Busan's politics, economy, civic institutions, and urban change, while connecting local developments to the wider newsroom file.

Busan World Expo 2030: Bid Committee Moves Forward in Race to Host Event
MICEMar 11, 2023

Busan World Expo 2030: Bid Committee Moves Forward in Race to Host Event

The Busan World Expo 2030 Bid Committee held its third meeting on Friday, March 10th, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul. The meeting, co-chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Chey Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry(KCCI), discussed the detailed plans for this year's bidding activities. The meeting aimed to unite the public and private sectors' bidding capabilities ahead of the decision on the 2030 World Expo host site in late November. The committee's focus wa

Busan Selected to Host 2024 World Volunteer Conference
MICEMar 11, 2023

Busan Selected to Host 2024 World Volunteer Conference

The city of Busan has secured the hosting rights for the 2024 World Volunteer Conference, the world's largest event in the field of volunteerism. The announcement was made following a selection process conducted by The Committee for the IAVE World Volunteer Congress, which saw Busan emerge as the top choice among a list of cities vying to host the prestigious event. Busan's successful bid was a result of the city's ability to highlight its attractiveness, such as its infrastructure for internat

Construction Firms Shift Focus to Government Projects in Busan
EconomyMar 9, 2023

Construction Firms Shift Focus to Government Projects in Busan

The sluggish sales market in Busan has resulted in construction companies shifting their focus toward government projects, in search of stable construction costs and reduced risks. As a result, the latest offering by the Busan Metropolitan Corporation for private operators has garnered significant attention from at least six companies, including Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Taeyoung E&C, and Kumho E&C, all of which are expected to participate in the upcoming competition. The project will

Young Artists of Busan Featured in Busan Museum of Art's 'My Young & Sad Day' Exhibition
DiscoverMar 9, 2023

Young Artists of Busan Featured in Busan Museum of Art's 'My Young & Sad Day' Exhibition

Busan Museum of Art will showcase the "My Young & Sad Day" exhibition from March 10 to August 6, 2023, featuring the original works of Busan-based emerging artists. The exhibition will be held in the grand exhibition room on the third floor of the main building and will introduce over 70 new works across various mediums, including painting, media, installation, and video. The exhibition is a representative program of the Busan Museum of Art, which has been discovering and introducing talented l

Building a Global Hub: The Need for an English-Friendly Environment in Busan
OpinionMar 9, 2023

Building a Global Hub: The Need for an English-Friendly Environment in Busan

Busan, located in the southeastern part of the Korean peninsula, has always been a crucial gateway to South Korea, with its extensive port and easy access to Southeast Asian countries. However, the language barrier remains a significant challenge for foreign visitors and residents, hindering the city's potential as a global hub. Although Busan has made efforts to promote itself as an international city, many of its residents still struggle with English, the universal language of business and com

Depopulation in Yeongdo-gu: Can Tourism Alone Revitalize Busan's Struggling Districts?
Busan newsMar 9, 2023

Depopulation in Yeongdo-gu: Can Tourism Alone Revitalize Busan's Struggling Districts?

Busan's Yeongdo-gu district is facing a serious depopulation crisis, raising concerns among local policymakers and residents alike. The district's population decline is most severe in the original city center, with Yeongdo-gu being the closest to what an aging Busan may look like in the future. This trend could have severe long-term consequences for the city's economic activity, social cohesion, and public services. According to a recent academic paper published in the Journal of Tourism Manage

Busan's Population Decline: Urgent Need for Sustainable Job Creation as Incheon Rises as a Competitor
EconomyMar 9, 2023

Busan's Population Decline: Urgent Need for Sustainable Job Creation as Incheon Rises as a Competitor

Busan, the second-largest city in South Korea, is facing a population decline crisis due to a sharp outflow of young people and a declining birth rate. The lack of quality job opportunities and career prospects for the city's residents is a major contributing factor to the population decline. Despite the city's efforts to revitalize the economy through tourism-based industries, the reliance on low-wage, low-welfare jobs is not a sustainable solution for the city's long-term economic growth and s

Sustainable Building Certification for Apartments in Busan
SustainabilityMar 8, 2023

Sustainable Building Certification for Apartments in Busan

Busan City, South Korea is following the trend of sustainable building certification for apartments by selecting seven "2022 Green Apartments" to promote carbon-neutral living. The Green Apartment Certification System has been implemented since 2011 for apartment buildings with more than 150 units to reduce greenhouse gases in the non-industrial sector. The apartments are evaluated based on 10 items, including quantitative indicators such as electricity, water, and gas savings rate, recycling se

Busan Welcomes Foreign Reporters to Showcase Preparations for 2030 World Expo
MICEMar 8, 2023

Busan Welcomes Foreign Reporters to Showcase Preparations for 2030 World Expo

Busan City has welcomed 14 foreign reporters in Korea to showcase its plans and preparations for the 2030 Busan World Expo. The press tour aimed to demonstrate the strengths and attractions of Busan as a candidate city for the 2030 World Expo to foreign reporters before the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) on-site inspection in early April. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, the government, the Bid Committee, and key executives of Busan City attended the event.

The Importance of English Proficiency in Busan's Economic Growth
Busan newsMar 7, 2023

The Importance of English Proficiency in Busan's Economic Growth

Busan, South Korea is making significant efforts to become an English-friendly city in order to attract foreign investment and stimulate its economy. However, despite these efforts, Korea still falls behind its global competitors, such as the Netherlands (1st) and Singapore (2nd), in terms of English proficiency. According to the 2022 EF English Proficiency Index, Korea ranks 36th out of 111 countries worldwide. English proficiency is a key factor in attracting foreign investment, as companies

Busan's "Tailored Negotiations" on African Tour to Promote 2030 World Expo Bid
MICEMar 7, 2023

Busan's "Tailored Negotiations" on African Tour to Promote 2030 World Expo Bid

Mayor Park Heong-joon, the Special Envoy for the 2030 Busan World Expo bid appointed by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, completed a successful tour of three African countries from February 22. The countries visited were the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Republic of South Africa, and the Republic of Angola. During the tour, Mayor Park met with high-level officials, including presidents, kings, prime ministers, deputy prime ministers, foreign ministers, finance ministers, and transportation minis

Building Long-Term Job Solutions in Busan
Busan newsMar 5, 2023

Building Long-Term Job Solutions in Busan

Korea is facing a daunting challenge: a rapidly declining birth rate. The country's total fertility rate of 0.7 is one of the lowest in the world, less than half of the OECD average of 1.59. This trend is particularly evident in major cities such as Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, where the fertility rate is below 0.8. Experts argue that piecemeal and short-term policies are not enough to address this complex issue and that a comprehensive and long-term approach is needed. One promising strategy is

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