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Busan Unveils Opening and Closing Ceremony Plans for 2025 National Sports Festival and National Para Games — Vision Presentation Held

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The Busan Metropolitan City Government (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that the “Vision Presentation for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2025 National Sports Festival and National Para Games” (hereinafter referred to as the “presentation”) was held on May 16 at 3:00 PM in the video conference room at City Hall, presided over by Mayor Park.

In attendance were General Director Park Kolleen, who was appointed in December 2024, and members of the Event Operations Advisory Committee composed of experts in culture, planning, and safety. Also present were officials from the Busan Sports Council, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, and other related organizations. The event included a report on the direction of the ceremonies followed by a Q&A session.

The presentation, delivered jointly by General Director Park Kolleen and the production agency selected in May 2025, outlined the ceremony direction through storytelling that reflects the local characteristics of Busan as a global hub, including its geography, industry, and sports.

The selected production agency for the event, a consortium led by KBS N Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), is a professional organization specializing in large-scale sports events.

The consortium includes:

• ●KBS N Co., Ltd., which handled major cultural events such as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympics,

• ●SBS M&C, with extensive experience executing various cultural events,

• ●Island Bridge Communications.

Appointed in December 2024, General Director Park Kolleen will oversee the planning and direction of the opening and closing ceremonies, working in collaboration with the contracted agency and production team to deliver a moving performance that embodies Busan’s identity and vision for the future.

The ceremonies will highlight the dynamic and pioneering spirit of Busan, with performances that incorporate the imagery of containers and the sea — symbols of the city’s maritime industry origins. The event will portray the resilient spirit of Busan’s citizens through diverse shows and performances, while showcasing the city’s future vision as a global hub city with creative and meaningful direction.

Busan City plans to reflect the opinions shared during the presentation to create a moving stage for the opening and closing ceremonies — the core events that mark the beginning and end of the 2025 National Sports Festival and National Para Games. Given the large-scale outdoor nature of the event, the city will also closely cooperate and communicate with relevant organizations, including the National Police Agency, to ensure the safety of athlete delegations, performers, and spectators.

Meanwhile, the opening ceremony of the 106th National Sports Festival, returning to Busan after two years, will be held on October 17, and the closing ceremony will take place on October 23 at Asiad Main Stadium. The opening ceremony of the 45th National Para Games will be held on October 31 at Asiad Main Stadium, and the closing ceremony will be held on November 5 at Sajik Indoor Gymnasium. Various programs, including themed performances for spectators, are also being prepared.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “The 2025 National Sports Festival and National Para Games should go beyond a simple sporting event and become a special experience that transforms all of Busan into a festive arena. We will ensure that Busan in October is filled with excitement and create a celebration where the entire nation can enjoy and participate together. We will do our utmost to make this a sports festival where the people can unite and communicate in Busan, the global hub city.”