News
Boosting the economy and enhancing lives in 2025
Busan City's goal for this year is to create a city where citizens are happy.
Busan Metropolitan City has set its priorities for 2025, focusing on economic recovery, ensuring stable livelihoods and enhancing global competitiveness. Guided by its vision as a "Happy City" and a "Global Hub City," Busan aims to implement tangible improvements that resonate in citizens' daily lives.
○A "Happy Busan" for all citizens
The slate of policy and system changes in store for 2025 will improve the quality of life for citizens of all ages.
Under the ethos of "Busan is good for families," the city is committed to helping families have and raise children. Busan will issue 1,000,000 won per newborn to help parents manage postnatal care and healthcare costs. This benefit only applies if at least one parent is Korean and a Busan resident.
The city will expand support for childcare services. Children will also have more access to English education through the establishment of additional Deullak Nallak centers citywide. Children from low-income households will receive higher allowances for meals.
Busan offers support for residents looking to start or add to their families. Korean residents aged 25 to 49, regardless of marital status, can receive financial assistance for essential fertility examinations － 130,000 won for women and 50,000 won for men. Foreign residents can receive the benefit if they are married to a Korean national.
Healthcare and welfare support for vulnerable groups will also expand. Basic livelihood benefits will have relaxed eligibility requirements, and funding for medical expenses and emergencies will increase.
Furthermore, the city is working to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities. The initiatives include increased funding for medical expenses and enhancing accessibility at tourist attractions.
Busan is improving the lives of senior citizens by increasing basic pension payouts and providing opportunities for community engagement. The city will establish more My Town ESG Centers, which provide much-needed jobs for older people. In addition, the "Happy Aging, Healthy Aging 365 Project," also known as HAHA 365, offers social, educational and physical activities to senior citizens.
○Improved healthcare
Busan continues its efforts to provide the best safety and health infrastructure for citizens. The city's initiatives include expanding the scope of coverage under the Citizen Safety Insurance program; digitizing healthcare administration; increasing the number of public late-night pharmacies; establishing regional emergency medical centers; and constructing the Busan Children's Hospital.
○Helping you get where you need to go
Transportation infrastructure will see significant upgrades in 2025. A Smart Tolling System will launch on Gwangandaegyo Bridge in February to reduce congestion and streamline toll collection. The system uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition to identify vehicles and automatically charge drivers.
Meanwhile, toll fees at Baekyang Tunnel will be eliminated on Jan. 10.
The TABARA Demand Response Transportation (DRT) system will expand from Gijang-gun County to Haeundae-gu and Gangseo-gu districts, with the number of operational vehicles increasing from five to 18. The expanded service will increase mobility in areas lacking public transit options.
Additionally, commuting by bus will be more convenient thanks to the installation of smart bus shelters citywide. Each shelter will feature real-time traffic information, cooling and heating, air purification, wired and wireless device charging, Wi-Fi and other safety features.
Citizens will also save more money when paying transit fares through Dongbaek Pass or K-Pass.
○Culture and sports for all
Busan will increase access to cultural, sports and tourism experiences by providing underprivileged citizens with the Culture Nuri Card. The city will also increase access to the Busan Youth Culture Pass Plus, which subsidizes cultural activities.
The city will host "reading culture festivals" in unique outdoor spaces to inspire a love of books.
Major venues like the Busan Concert Hall will host performances starting mid-2025, with the Busan Opera House set to open in 2026. Increased funding for the Busan Culture and Arts Support Project will benefit local artists and arts organizations.
Busan is also enhancing access to public sports facilities so citizens can engage in physical activities. The city is gearing up to host a successful 2025 National Sports Festival next fall.
○Advancing as a Global Hub City
The Gadeokdo New Airport is on schedule to open in 2029, cementing Busan's status as a global logistics hub. The airport will anchor the city's tri-port system, which integrates air, sea, rail and roadway logistics.
Infrastructure improvements continue with traffic alleviation projects and the construction of the Sasang-Hadan subway line. Revitalization efforts are ongoing in West Busan, including the near completion of the second phase of the North Port Redevelopment Project.
