Busan is good

Overseas Korean Youth Participating in the ‘2025 Next-Generation Homeland Invitation Program’ Visit Busan to Strengthen National Identity

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that from July 10 to 13, overseas Korean youths visiting Korea through the “2025 Next-Generation Homeland Invitation Program” visited Busan and experienced its culture and history, thereby deepening their sense of Korean identity.

On July 11, the city held a welcoming ceremony at the Grand Moment Youth Hostel in Nam-gu for 150 participants from 34 countries, who were part of the first group of the program’s three scheduled visits to Busan this year.

The event featured a video introducing Busan and a welcoming speech, followed by a Taekwondo performance by the K-Tigers, which was met with great enthusiasm from the overseas youths.

A total of 330 overseas Korean youths will visit Busan in three separate 3-night, 4-day sessions from July 10 to August 10 as part of this year’s “Next-Generation Homeland Invitation Program.” This marks the largest program to date, with about 95 Busan youths also participating.

Participants come from 40 countries, including the United States, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Australia, and Canada. The program will be conducted in three sessions:
▲ 1st session: July 10–13
▲ 2nd session: July 24–27
▲ 3rd session: August 7–10

This program has been implemented annually since 1998 by the Office of Overseas Koreans and the Center for Overseas Koreans Cooperation, with active support from the city of Busan since 2016.

This program aims to provide overseas Korean youths with opportunities to experience Busan’s culture and history, fostering a stronger sense of Korean identity. At the same time, it seeks to instill pride in their Korean heritage, promote exchanges with Busan youths, and enhance global competencies for the era of globalization.

In particular, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation, participants visited the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan to offer flowers and hold a moment of silence. Other key activities included exchanges with students from Pusan National University, a yacht tour at Suyeongman Bay, and a visit to Beomeosa Temple.

Participants explored the campus of Pusan National University while filming vlogs with university students. They then enjoyed a yacht tour at the Suyeong Bay Yacht Center to experience the charm of Busan as a maritime city, and visited Beomeosa Temple, a representative historical temple of Busan.

Lee Jun-seung, Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “This year’s event, held in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation, goes beyond mere exchange—it is a meaningful step in connecting the past and future of the Korean people.” He added, “We hope this will serve as an opportunity to showcase Busan’s beautiful natural scenery and its status as a global hub city, while strengthening Korean identity and building international exchange networks.”