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Master Plan for “Global Startup Hub Busan” Unveiled – Final Design Team Selected through International Competition

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The Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced today (May 13) that it has selected the architectural team for the international design competition for “Global Startup Hub Busan,” to be developed at North Port’s Pier 1, and that the project will now move into full-scale implementation.

This two-stage competition was held from January to May this year. In the first stage, 37 world-class architectural teams from 11 countries registered. In the second stage, 4 of the 5 invited teams submitted proposals.

Following the final review on May 7, the team consisting of OBR (Open Building Research, Italy, led by Paolo Brescia & Tommaso Principi) and Kang Boo-john Architects (Korea, led by Kang Boo-john) was selected, overcoming intense competition with a ratio of 37:1.

OBR, the lead firm, has carried out a variety of public and private projects, including the Pythagoras Museum in Crotone and the Milano Fiori Residential Complex in Milan.

Kang Boo-john, a young architect based in Busan, currently operates offices in both Korea and the U.S. and has contributed to major projects such as the design planning for the Busan Opera House.

The winning proposal was highly praised for its respectful nod to the past while looking toward the future.

Notable elements included:

• ●A spatial plan that faithfully recreates the original warehouse structure, drawing inspiration from historical remnants

• ●A design that emphasizes eco-friendliness, energy efficiency, and sustainability

• ●A modest yet meaningful architectural identity that harmonizes with the urban context

• ●A creative spatial composition that sensitively interprets historical temporality and locality with a modern touch, while embedding forward-looking values

The winning team has been granted priority negotiation rights for the architectural design contract. The City will incorporate input from cultural heritage experts and aims to complete the detailed design in the second half of this year.

In parallel with constructing the Global Startup Hub Busan, the City plans to actively expand the global startup ecosystem through enhanced investment networks, international startup attraction, and startup support programs, aiming to establish Busan as a leading global startup city.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated,
“Pier 1 of Busan Port is a gateway that connects sea and city—a space where Busan connects not just to Asia but to the world. We will do our utmost to make the ‘Global Startup Hub Busan’ a global powerhouse that links past and future and serves as a space full of vitality and opportunity.”

He added, “We will focus all of the City’s efforts and administrative resources on opening this innovation hub in 2026.”