Busan is good

A conversation with German resident Florian Klewitz

 The Korea Heart to Heart (K2H) Program is an international exchange initiative launched in 1999 to provide local government officials from around the world with firsthand experience of Korea’s administrative systems. The program aims to promote mutual understanding and strengthen global cooperation by immersing participants in Korea's public sector.As part of this year’s exchange, Busan is hosting Florian Klewitz, a municipal officer from Hamburg, Germany, currently working at Busan City Hall. Daily Busan spoke with Mr. Klewitz about his experiences in Korea and his thoughts on the future cooperation between Hamburg and Busan.Q. Could you please introduce yourself? A. My name is Florian Klewitz, and I’m 34 years old. I'm a civil servant from Hamburg. I'm kind of a management lawyer trainee. For 13 years before, I was a police officer. As a police officer, I was under a lot of stress because I always had to fight with people. Everyone is always angry at you, and I didn't like it anymore. Also, I was a bit bored intellectually and wanted a new challenge. The hardest thing I thought I could do was to study law, so I enrolled at Hamburg University in 2016 and became a lawyer.Q. What brought you from Hamburg to Busan?One day, I got a letter from the HR department about the Korea Heart to Heart (K2H) Program, which invites foreign civil servants to Korea for six months. I had time to decide and thought it would be a nice experience because I had never lived in a foreign country. I thought it would be great to be here on my own, learning about the culture and language. Also, it's not a normal thing for civil servants to have the possibility to be in a foreign country for so long. So I decided to take part in it and I’m here now. Q. Please tell me about your current role and responsibilities at Busan City Hall.I work in the International Department of Busan City Hall. My role is to help the International Department connect with Hamburg. So if something happens that has to do with Germany or Hamburg, I’m there to help and to make some connections, especially in the Hamburg administration. That's the main part of my role. Q. What has impressed you the most about life in Busan so far? The tall buildings. We don't have tall buildings like this in Hamburg or even in Germany. I think that's because Busan has a lot of mountains that make it challenging to build out instead of up. In Germany, we have flat terrain, so we can build wider and don't have to build so high. I also think everything in Busan is very nice and clean, especially on the subway or buses. It's very quiet and clean.Q. Hamburg and Busan have a cooperative relationship. What similarities or complementary aspects do you see between the two cities?As far as I know, Busan has the biggest harbor in South Korea, and Hamburg has the biggest harbor in Germany. I think the biggest part that connects both cities is the harbor. Also, both Busan and Hamburg are the second biggest cities in their countries, and both cities are among the most beautiful cities in the world.Q. How would you like to see the relationship between Hamburg and Busan develop?I think the relationship between Hamburg and Busan is not as deep as it could be. We don't have a sister city agreement yet, so maybe that kind of relationship is possible. If that happens, that would be a great thing for both cities. <Today's Vocabulary - 오늘의 단어>exchange: 교환 administrative: 행정적인 mutual: 상호간의 cooperation: 협력 municipal officer: 시 공무원 intellectually: 지적으로 enroll: 등록하다 invite: 초대하다 possibility: 가능성 terrain: 지형 harbor: 항구 Editor: Song SoomiCopy Editors: Ryu Hyoseung, Anton J. Mapoy 

’Busan Immersed in Jazz’ at Sosopung, Domoheon: Part of Busan’s First Monthly Outdoor Jazz Concert Series

’Busan Immersed in Jazz’ at Sosopung, Domoheon: Part of Busan’s First Monthly Outdoor Jazz Concert Series□ Busan Metropolitan City invites citizens to experience ‘Busan Immersed in Jazz.’□ The jazz concert series Saturday Jazz Club was held three times from October to December 2024. Its new season, titled Busan, Immersed in Jazz, kicked off on April 26 at the Sosopoong Garden of Domoheon. The May jazz concert will be held on Saturday, May 31, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Domoheon.Busan Immersed in Jazz○ (Schedule) Last Saturday of each month, April-October 2025○ Jazz concert in May: Saturday, May 31, 2025, 17:00-18:00○ (Venue) Sosopung, Domoheon○ (Admission) Free○ (Visit Website)○ (Details) Busan’s only outdoor jazz concert featuring top-tier Korean and international musicians who perform live and share their stories, set in a picnic-style atmosphere where guests are encouraged to bring their own food, drinks, blankets, or chairs□ ‘Busan Immersed in Jazz,’ the city’s exclusive monthly outdoor jazz concert, showcases celebrated artists from Korea and abroad and aims to convey the charm of jazz music and foster a broader appreciation for the performing arts across Busan.○ Attendees can relax on picnic blankets or chairs and enjoy live performances while dining in comfort.□ In addition, ‘Connect (Art Busan): Chung Hyun Outdoor Sculpture Project’ will be held from April 29 to June 29, 2025, providing a unique opportunity to explore high-quality outdoor art.Connect (Art Busan): Chung Hyun Outdoor Sculpture Project○ (Period) Tuesday, April 29-Sunday, June 29, 2025○ (Venue) Sosopung, Domoheon○ (Admission) Free○ (Details) Outdoor exhibition of The Standing Man, a signature work by Chung Hyun□ The Standing Man, by world-acclaimed Korean sculptor Chung Hyun, will be on display at Domoheon for the first time in Busan.○ The Standing Man, with a height of four meters tall, evokes strength and vitality amidst pain and hard

2025 Busan One Asia Festival Park Concert on June 14 at Hwamyeong Ecological Park

2025 Busan One Asia Festival Park Concert on June 14 at Hwamyeong Ecological Park□ The 2025 Busan One Asia Festival Park Concert will take place free of charge at Hwamyeong Ecological Park on June 14, 2025, beginning at 17:00.○ Under the theme, ‘Healing Music Picnic in the City,’ this outdoor event offers a laid-back, picnic-style atmosphere where audiences can enjoy live music while lounging on mats surrounded by lush greenery. The concert is open to all citizens with no admission fee.2025 Busan One Asia Festival Park Concert❖ Date Time: Saturday, June 14, 2025, 13:00–21:00 ※ Concert at 17:00❖ Venue: Grass Soccer Fields AB, Hwamyeong Ecological Park❖ Performers: 6 celebrated artists, rising local talents❖ Side Events (tentative): B-FOOD (in collaboration with food companies), B-Partner (sponsor booths)□ The star-studded lineup features fan favorites such as K.Will, Davichi, HUI, and Juho, along with standout Busan-based musicians. Together, they will deliver heartfelt vocals and energetic sets that capture the pulse and rhythm of Busan.□ Attendees are invited to savor an engaging cultural outing that evokes the feeling of a picnic, accompanied by a diverse selection of food and refreshments at B-Food.□ The concert is hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and co-organized by the Busan Tourism Organization and SM Culture Contents, with the goal of making pop music freely accessible to the public.○ The main stage of the 2025 Busan One Asia Festival, BigBand Concert, is slated for June 11–13 at BEXCO Exhibition Center 1; reservations can be made via Melon Ticket (ticket.melon.com).○ Fandom City, a multi-content exhibition and hands-on zone centered on K-POP artists’ outfits, will also be held to expand the festival’s reach further.○ For the latest updates, visit our website (www.bof.or.kr) or follow us on social media: Facebook (facebook.com/BusanOneAsiaFestival) and Instagram (instagram.com/bof_official_kr/).2025 Busan One Asia Festiv