Busan is good

Mayor Park Heong-joon Vows to Complete Busan’s Development Puzzle Together with Citizens and Make 2025 a Year of Tangible ‘Happiness for All’

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) held a press conference at City Hall today (1st) to mark the third anniversary of his inauguration for the 8th civil election term, sharing with citizens the achievements of the past three years and the direction for the next year of city governance.

Mayor Park said, “The past three years of the 8th civil election term have been a breathless journey to elevate Busan into a global hub city and a city of citizen happiness. In that process, I directly witnessed the potential and transformation of Busan, and it was a time to turn citizens’ self-deprecation and pessimism into firm hope and confidence.”

He summarized the achievements of the three years of the 8th term under the three core keywords “Increase, Elevate, and Resolve,” emphasizing that the results of city policy have been proven not by mere slogans but by concrete numbers and tangible changes.

Increase – Growth Across Investment, Jobs, and Tourism
From investment and jobs to foreign tourists, Busan’s vitality has grown significantly.

[Investment Attraction] Over the past three years, the city’s cumulative investment attraction amounted to approximately KRW 14.2 trillion, doubling compared to 2020 (KRW 2.815 trillion), creating about 11,000 new jobs. Leading global companies, centered around R&D centers, as well as excellent companies in advanced logistics and new industries, have been coming to Busan. The city became the first in the country to have two “Opportunity Development Zones” designated in a single year and secured 5 million pyeong (approx. 16.5 km²) of available development land through the lifting of development restrictions for the first time in 17 years.

[Jobs] The number of regular employees has been steadily rising, nearing the milestone of 1 million for the first time ever. Youth employment rates have reached record highs, and the employment rate for those aged 15–64 has shown the highest increase in the nation.

[Foreign Tourists] In 2024, the number of foreign tourists reached a record 2.92 million. As of April 2025, the number has already surpassed 1 million, setting a new record for the fastest time to reach the 1 million mark.

Elevate – Raising City Brand and Quality of Life to Global Standards
The significantly enhanced city brand and improved quality of life have boosted civic pride.

[Global Rankings] After implanting the DNA of digital new industries into Busan’s industrial ecosystem, the city rose from 62nd place globally (2nd in Asia) in the Global Smart Center Index (SCI) in 2021 to 12th globally (2nd in Asia) in 2025. Establishing the nation’s first digital asset exchange and founding the Busan Startup Investment Agency have created a virtuous cycle of capital, talent, and technology, elevating the city to 24th place in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), its highest-ever ranking. In addition, Busan ranked 6th in Asia for the Economist Intelligence Unit’s “Global Liveability Index” for two consecutive years and was recognized by global media such as The New York Times and TripAdvisor.

[Domestic Rankings] Busan ranked 1st nationwide in the 2024 “Children’s Quality of Life Index” (Save the Children Korea), 1st among metropolitan cities in the “Youth Life Satisfaction Index” (National Assembly Futures Institute), and 1st among metropolitan cities in the “Citizen Happiness Index” (National Assembly Futures Institute).

[Core Policies] Policies aimed at making Busan a city where people would want to live again—such as the “15-minute city” initiative, the Busan-style integrated all-day childcare program “Neulbom,” and Busan-specific youth policies like the “G-Generation Project”—have become deeply embedded in citizens’ lives.

[Quality of Life Improvements] The opening of Busan Concert Hall, resumption of construction on the Opera House, and the creation of a world-class art museum are propelling Busan’s cultural infrastructure to global levels. The mayor’s residence, Domoheon, has been opened to the public for the first time in 40 years. The city has expanded park areas and secured ownership of four professional sports teams, further enriching citizens’ quality of life.

Resolve – Addressing Long-standing Issues and Laying the Groundwork for Innovation
Through governance that keeps promises to citizens, Busan has opened the way to resolve long-standing challenges and untangle complex issues.

The city secured the central government’s positive decision for the early opening of Gadeokdo New Airport and placed the undergrounding of the Gyeongbu Line railway between Busanjin and Busan Station—an 18.4 km national project with a budget of KRW 1.8 trillion—on track. Nakdong River crossing bridge projects such as Daejeo–Eomgung and Jangnak Bridge reached groundbreaking after 10 years of planning by balancing environmental and development needs.

The redevelopment of the Busan Yachting Center, which had been stalled for over a decade, is back on track, and the city is working to transform the Dadae Incineration Plant into a hub of marine leisure tourism by linking private investment with government project proposals.

Mayor Park stated, “Korea, facing limits to its growth potential, is at a crucial turning point where it must leap forward again through balanced regional development. The new central government envisions making Busan the central city of a maritime power, and our city will actively participate. At the same time, we will actively push forward with the enactment of the Busan Global Hub City Special Act and the relocation of the Korea Development Bank to Busan, in line with the new government’s policy direction, so that Busan can grow into a hub of innovation in the southern region.”

He added, “The coming year of the 8th civil election term will focus on enabling citizens to truly feel Busan’s transformation for their happiness. We will seize the upcoming new challenges and opportunities as a driving force for a better tomorrow, and together with our citizens, we will complete the puzzle of ‘Global Hub City Busan’ and ‘Busan so good you’d want to live here again.’”