The City of Busan (Mayor Park Heong-joon) has announced that the full interview between Mayor Park and Professor Carlos Moreno, the creator of the “15-Minute City” concept, is now available on its official YouTube channel, “BusanTube.”
During his two-day visit to Busan on March 23 and 24, Professor Carlos Moreno, a world-renowned urban planning scholar, experienced major anchor facilities and specialized programs related to the “15-Minute City,” and held an in-depth discussion with Mayor Park on the vision of “15-Minute City Busan.”
His visit to Busan was also featured in Channel A’s special documentary, Moreno Report: A Platform That Creates Urban Miracles, and the full version of the interview with Mayor Park can be viewed on the city’s official YouTube channel.
The interview took place at Domoheon (the former mayor’s residence), which symbolizes a space where Busan’s future is envisioned. The meeting held special significance as it brought together Professor Moreno, the theorist behind the “15-Minute City,” and Mayor Park, who is turning the concept into municipal policy.
Professor Carlos Moreno is an associate professor at the Pantheon-Sorbonne University in France and a globally acclaimed urban planner who first proposed the concept of the “15-Minute City” in his book Droit de Cité (Right to the City).
He previously visited Busan in October 2022 for the World Knowledge Forum and praised the city’s “15-Minute City” plan, demonstrating his strong interest in Busan’s related policies.
During this visit, he gave high marks to key anchor facilities such as the “Deullak Nallak Children's Complex Cultural Space” (located at Busan City Hall) and the “Our Neighborhood ESG Center” (located in Dong-gu). He interacted with citizens and expressed particular surprise that over 100 Deullak Nallak spaces have been established across the city.
The “Deullak Nallak” space was recognized as an exemplary case of sustainable urban development and social inclusion, winning the grand prize at the SDG City Awards, co-hosted by the United Nations ESCAP and CITYNET, among 70 global cities.
The “Our Neighborhood ESG Center” received the Silver Award at the 2025 Green World Awards for its excellence in utilizing senior citizens in a circular economy model that promotes environmental sustainability.
Mayor Park emphasized that such spaces as “Deullak Nallak” and the “Our Neighborhood ESG Center” serve as key anchor facilities that connect local communities and foster interaction among citizens. He noted that the true value of a “15-Minute City” is built over time and lies in “building strong social ties and revitalizing local communities.”
He added that the goal of “15-Minute City Busan” is to enable citizens to “enjoy a happy daily life and cultural experiences close to home with good neighbors,” aiming to create a city where people would want to live again even if given the chance to be reborn.
The interview was conducted in both French and Korean. Despite the language barrier requiring double interpretation, the conversation was conducted in-depth thanks to the hosting by broadcaster Lee Olivia. Professor Moreno also expressed his respect for the City of Busan for developing and implementing the “15-Minute City” in a way that reflects the city's unique geographical and environmental characteristics.
The full version of the interview was released on May 17 through the city’s official YouTube channel, “BusanTube,” and a citizen engagement event to promote and support “15-Minute City Busan” is currently underway.
This content has been translated by AI. Please refer to the attached original Korean version for accuracy if needed.
Translated by AI
Link to Busan press releases in Korean