Busan is good

Global Hub City Busan to Host Global Gathering 2025 on May 24

내용

A global family festival celebrating multiculturalism and unity will be held in Busan.

Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that the 20th Global Gathering 2025 will take place on Friday, May 24, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae to commemorate “Together Day,” which is observed annually on May 20.

Together Day: A legal commemorative day established in 2007 to promote understanding and coexistence among people of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds in a multicultural society.

The event is co-hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and the Ministry of Justice (Minister Park Sung-jae), and co-organized by the Busan Global City Foundation (CEO Jeon Yong-woo), Busan Immigration Office (Commissioner Kim Hyun-chae), and the Busan Cinema Center (CEO Koh In-beom).

The opening ceremony will be held at 11:00 AM on May 24 and will be attended by Mayor Park Heong-joon, the Commissioner of the Busan Immigration Office, representatives from foreign embassies and consulates in Korea, and other dignitaries.

This year’s festival will gather about 15,000 global citizens from 90 organizations representing 30 countries, including embassies, consulates general, cultural centers, foreign communities in Busan, and international exchange and support institutions. Attendees will enjoy performances and exhibitions showcasing various cultures through food, crafts, traditional clothing, and accessories.

Notably, this year marks both the 20th anniversary of the event, which began as a multicultural gathering with foreign residents, and the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization between Korea and Japan. A richer and more diverse program has been prepared for the occasion.

Highlights include a commemorative duet performance by young trot singers Jeong Seo-joo (winner of Miss Trot 3) and Azuma Aki (participant in the Korea-Japan Singing Contest), representing the future generations of Korea and Japan. Performances by troupes from China, Japan, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cameroon, and Korea are also scheduled.

Additionally, BeFM will host a special live broadcast featuring singer Aaron, Wan E-hwa, rapper YunB, comedian Lee Sang-hoon, and All Star English radio hosts Shin Min-soo, Campbell Asia, and Boogie. Under the theme “Hello, World! Let’s Be Friends,” the broadcast will offer global stories, music, and an English quiz segment (Talk & Music & English Quiz).

Following the Global Gathering 2025, a series of global events will take place during “Together Week” (May 20–26).

On the outdoor plaza of the Busan Cinema Center, visitors can experience crafts, food, traditional attire, and souvenirs from more than 100 countries across the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe at designated national booths.

On May 24 and 25, the Cinematheque at the Busan Cinema Center will host “Stories of Global Citizens in Film,” in collaboration with the Korea-Africa Foundation (KAF), as part of global citizenship education. Free screenings of related films will be available.

Other activities include a giant board game event, the “Busan Han Seok-bong Awards,” various citizen participation programs, and prize giveaways through raffles.

In his welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony, Mayor Park Heong-joon will state, “I believe the experience we have accumulated through hosting the Global Gathering 2025 will become a strong driving force for Busan to leap forward as a global hub city. I hope this festival serves as a valuable platform for strengthening global cooperation and enhancing civic awareness so that Busan’s vision can be realized and the world can grow closer through Busan.” He will add, “We will continue to open Busan to the world so that it remains a city full of freedom and inclusivity, offering opportunities to every young person with a dream.”

---

Appendix 1: Festival Poster

Appendix 2: Main Stage Schedule