Busan is good

Mayor Park Heong-joon Visits Key Safety and Livelihood Sites in Busan

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On May 12, Mayor Park Heong-joon visited two key project sites in Saha-gu, Busan, to inspect progress and directly engage with stakeholders regarding public safety and local economic revitalization.

Starting at 10:30 a.m., Mayor Park visited the newly designated site in Dangni-dong for the Disaster Safety Industry Promotion Facility, followed by a visit to the target area for the Hadan Commercial District Revitalization Project in Hadan-dong.

Busan was officially selected today (May 12) as a recipient of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s 2025 national grant for the creation of a specialized disaster safety industry promotion facility focusing on steep slope and landslide prevention.

Led by Busan Technopark, the project includes:

• ●Construction of a promotion facility specializing in steep slope and landslide safety

• ●Development of an on-site testing ground (test bed)

• ●Installation of evaluation and certification systems for safety technologies and products

Busan submitted its proposal in March and was notified of final selection on May 12.

The City expects this facility to generate approximately KRW 200 billion in direct and indirect economic benefits through increased industry revenue, job creation, and expanded research activity.

Over the next three years, starting in 2025, the City will invest KRW 16 billion in total to establish the facility. This includes KRW 10 billion for testing and certification infrastructure and KRW 2 billion for land acquisition.

From 2026 to 2027, KRW 4 billion in additional funding will support collaborative research and development in disaster safety technologies.

Once completed, the facility will serve as a central hub for evaluation and testing of safety products and technologies, supported by collaboration among industry, academia, and government. Key partners include Busan Technopark, the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), the Korea Slope Safety Association, Pukyong National University, and Kyungsung University.

The facility will also promote the development of a national certification system for steep slope and landslide safety and support joint R&D with domestic companies.

In addition, the City plans to invest up to KRW 6 billion over five years beginning in 2026 to revitalize the Hadan Autonomous Commercial District—one of three newly designated districts for the City’s commercial revitalization initiative, along with the Pusan National University Hive District in Geumjeong-gu and the Gijang Market District in Gijang-gun.

Once a vibrant hub centered around Hadan Station and Hadan Intersection along Metro Line 1, Hadan has experienced a downturn due to declining foot traffic and the rise of non-contact shopping patterns.

To address this, the City will pursue both hardware (H/W) and software (S/W) revitalization projects, including:

• ●Creating specialized zones with unique themes across the district

• ●Upgrading signs and storefronts to reflect current trends

• ●Hosting the “Hari Light Festival”

• ●Collaborating with local universities and artists to develop storytelling and cultural content

Mayor Park stated,
“The Disaster Safety Industry Promotion Facility will be a cornerstone in advancing Korea’s disaster safety industry and addressing Busan’s region-specific safety challenges. I also hope the revitalization of the Hadan Autonomous Commercial District will mark a turning point in reinvigorating the local economy.”

He added,
“I urge all stakeholders to do their utmost to ensure these initiatives drive forward local economic revitalization.”