Daily Busan
Busan takes top honors at LivCom Awards for people-first urban planning
source: visitbusan
Busan's signature 15-Minute City initiative continues to elevate the city's global standing, earning top honors at the 2025 LivCom Awards.
On Nov. 21 in Istanbul, Turkiye, Busan received the Gold Award in the Whole City category and a Criteria Award for Sustainable Planning and Management Policies.
Founded in 1997, the United Nations-backed LivCom Awards recognize excellence in local environmental management and urban development aimed at improving quality of life. Now in its 23rd year, the awards received 281 submissions from 52 countries, with 30 cities and 37 projects advancing to the finals.
Busan delivered its final presentation on Nov. 20, highlighting the core pillars of its 15-Minute City initiative, which adapts the global concept to the city's distinct geography. The initiative focuses on strengthening neighborhood connectivity, enhancing walkability and fostering resident-centered development. Officials emphasized Busan's 0shift from a development-driven model to a people-first urban culture that prioritizes pedestrians over cars.
Key examples include the Happy Challenge Project, which promotes vibrant, walkable communities; Busan Citizens Park, transformed from a former U.S. military base into a major public space; F1963, a repurposed factory turned cultural hub; and the Our Neighborhood ESG Centers, which combine senior employment with environmental programs.
Competing in Group E, cities with populations exceeding one million, Busan stood alongside global peers such as Vienna, Sao Paulo and Baoding, China, before ultimately claiming the Gold Award. It also earned the highest score among all finalists for its sustainable planning and management practices.
Judges praised Busan's innovative integration of sustainability into everyday life and noted that its 15-Minute City initiative offers a compelling model for cities seeking more livable, human-centered environments.
<Today's Vocabulary - 오늘의 단어>
pillar: 기둥 connectivity: 연결성 emphasize: 강조하다 pedestrian: 보행자 population: 인구 sustainability: 지속가능성
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