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The 2025 Busan Mayor’s Cup International Surfing Competition to Be Held at Songjeong Beach, a Year-Round Surfing Destination

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that the “2025 16th Busan Mayor’s Cup International Surfing Competition” will be held over two days from June 28 to 29 at Songjeong Beach.

This annual competition, hosted by the city and organized by the Busan Surfing Association and the Korea Surfing Association, has been held since 2009 to promote surfing culture and expand the base of marine leisure sports.

Songjeong Beach, a premier surfing destination with ideal natural conditions that allow surfing year-round, is expected to further solidify Busan’s reputation as a global marine leisure tourism city through this event.

As surfing gained global attention after becoming an official Olympic sport at the Tokyo 2020 Games, the popularity of surfing and related tourism in Korea has been steadily increasing.

Now in its 16th edition, this year’s competition will attract over 350 participants, including athletes and enthusiasts from both Korea and abroad, who will compete in exciting matches set against the scenic Songjeong Beach.

The opening ceremony and preliminary rounds will be held on June 28, followed by the finals, awards ceremony, and closing ceremony on June 29.

The competition includes 19 events across 10 categories, including general, beginner, youth, and teen divisions for both surfing and SUP, as well as a paddling relay race. Trophies and prize money will be awarded to the top three winners in each event.

Featured events include:

• ●Shortboard competitions using short, agile boards,

• ●Longboard events characterized by smooth, flowing movements on longer boards,

• ●Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) where participants stand on boards and paddle through the waves.

Athletes will ride multiple waves within a set time, and judges will evaluate their two best rides to determine rankings based on wave selection, difficulty and execution of techniques, speed, and creativity.

The paddling relay race will be conducted in team format, adding diversity and excitement to the surfing spectacle.

Additionally, a unique healing program in collaboration with the Busan Meditation Association will allow participants and visitors to experience meditation accompanied by the soothing tones of singing bowls on the beach, offering a moment of mental and physical relaxation.

(*Singing bowl meditation: A meditative practice using bowl-shaped instruments that produce sound and vibrations to relax the body and mind.)

Throughout the competition, citizens can enjoy a variety of hands-on experience programs, including:

• ●Surfing and surfskate sessions,

• ●Beach yoga and Pilates,

• ●Keychain and silkscreen bag making,

• ●Face painting, and more.

These activities will transform Songjeong Beach into a vibrant marine leisure culture festival centered around surfing.

To close the event, a beach clean-up activity (beachcombing) will be held with the participation of athletes and attendees, raising awareness about marine environmental protection and promoting the values of sustainable event practices.

Lee Jun-seung, Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs, stated,
“Busan is a leading marine leisure city where surfing is possible year-round. I hope this competition not only delivers the joy of surfing but also serves as an opportunity to showcase Busan’s potential as a premier marine leisure tourism destination to both domestic and international audiences.”