Busan is good

Busan Selected for National Urban Architectural Design Planning Support Project

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The Busan Metropolitan City has been selected as one of three local governments nationwide for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s (MOLIT) 2025 Urban Architectural Design Planning Support Project, securing KRW 150 million in national funding.

This project supports the activities of local Chief Architects — expert advisors appointed by mayors to enhance the quality of public architectural design and urban space policies. Busan’s current Chief Architect, Woo Shin-gu, appointed in November 2024, will lead this initiative.

The Urban Architectural Design Plan is a comprehensive strategy to elevate the quality of architectural and urban spaces, addressing issues such as connected spaces for architectural heritage, priority landscape zones, and innovative design strategies for key urban areas.

Busan was recognized for:

• ●A clear plan to utilize its Chief Architect effectively,

• ●The project’s relevance and feasibility,

• ●Strong potential for implementation.

With this project, Busan aims to devise a strategic plan to utilize underused open spaces (known as "gong-gae-gong-ji") in the city center to support its "15-Minute City" vision — a concept in which daily life essentials are accessible within a 15-minute walk.

The city will:

• ●Link scattered open spaces with pedestrian-friendly alleyways,

• ●Connect them linearly along major roads to create a “Downtown Greenway,”

• ●Designate key focus areas where open spaces are underutilized and transform them into accessible public green areas with community participation.

A comprehensive survey of open space zones will be conducted, and a strategic plan will be developed to better integrate policies and programs that encourage multi-purpose use of these areas.

Busan also plans to involve Public Architects — specialists who ensure consistent planning and execution in public construction projects — throughout the research and design process, working with a cooperative network of government, academia, and civil society to gain public consensus and ensure feasible implementation.

The city will invest a total of KRW 300 million over two years:

• ●2025: KRW 100 million in national funding will support initial research,

• ●2026: KRW 50 million in national funds and KRW 150 million in city funds will be allocated for strategy development and implementation planning.

This MOLIT program is part of a broader effort to support the civil expert system, which promotes quality design in urban architecture and fosters architectural culture.

Woo Shin-gu, Busan’s Chief Architect, stated, 

“This initiative will transform underutilized urban spaces into creatively designed community spaces, incorporating green zones and public facilities aligned with the walkability goals of the 15-Minute City model.”

Ha Sung-tae, Director General of the Housing and Architecture Bureau, added, 

“By leading architectural innovation through collaboration with private-sector experts, we aim to restore the urban dignity and spatial value of Busan’s downtown and strengthen the city’s competitiveness through design-driven solutions.”