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“Let’s Have SUP-er Fun!” Urban Summer Marine Sports Festival “North Port SUP FESTA” to Be Held

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Bringing Waterfront Parks Into Daily Life… Busan’s North Port Re-emerges as an Urban Marine Sports Festival

Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will host “North Port SUP FESTA – Let’s Have SUP-er Fun!” for 12 days from July 26 to August 6. The event will take place throughout the North Port Waterfront Park area in collaboration with Jung-gu, Dong-gu, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Busan Cinema Center, and the Busan Meditation Association.

This marks the first attempt to transform the North Port waterfront area into an everyday public space. The festival will enrich the summer season with various experiences and cultural programs.

Breaking away from previous one-off summer events, the city aims to develop content for the waterfront and position North Port as a global hub for marine culture. It is expected that the festival will generate sustained tourism demand.

Key programs include:
▲[MADEON] WATERBOMB Busan 2025
▲[Busan City] Stand-up paddleboard (SUP) experience
▲[Jung-gu] Children's water playground and flea market
▲[Dong-gu] Water bike, kayak, and SUPMARAN boat experience
▲[Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries] North Port busking performances
▲[Busan Cinema Center] Mobile outdoor cinema
▲[Busan Meditation Association] Meditation, book festival, and music concert

[MADEON] WATERBOMB Busan 2025 is a major cultural event designed to showcase the energy of Busan’s youth and the charm of a maritime city. It aims to enhance the city’s dynamic image and become a top summer-season attraction.

[Busan City] The stand-up paddleboard (SUP) experience offers a unique marine sport in which participants stand on a wide board and paddle across the water. It allows for a special experience of enjoying clear skies and the sea right in the heart of the city.

[Jung-gu] The children’s water playground targets elementary school-aged children and younger, and will be open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM throughout the festival. In addition to swimming and water play facilities, a flea market featuring handcrafted goods will also be available.

[Dong-gu] Three types of eco-friendly water leisure programs—water bikes, pedal kayaks, and SUPMARAN boats—will all be offered free of charge. The SUPMARAN is a type of electric boat made by connecting two SUP boards. A version that accommodates pets will also be available, offering memorable experiences for pet-owning families.

[Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries] The North Port busking performances will take place at 6:30 PM on four occasions: August 1 (1st round), August 2 (2nd), August 9 (3rd), and August 16 (4th). A diverse range of emotional street performances is planned.

[Busan Cinema Center] The mobile outdoor cinema will screen the 2013 film Begin Again, whose uplifting story and enchanting original soundtrack (OST) will offer comfort and add a touch of romance to summer nights.

Other associated events include:
▲A meditation session accompanied by flowing music, allowing participants to experience inner peace
▲“Book Shade,” a popup bookstore in partnership with Kyobo Bookstore
▲A music concert featuring the Kumuda Ensemble and violinist KoN

Each program will be hosted by the corresponding organization. Details on how to participate or make reservations are available on the official event website (bhsupfesta.com). Some programs will also accept on-site registration.

For additional information, please contact the North Port Redevelopment Division at Busan Metropolitan City (☎ 051-888-2902).

Lim Kyung-mo, Director General of the Urban Innovation and Balance Office at Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “The ‘North Port SUP FESTA’ combines global Korean Wave content like WATERBOMB with the unique appeal of Busan as a maritime tourism city. It will serve as a launchpad for a world-class festival,” adding, “Next year, we will expand the event with even more diverse programs that tourists and citizens from around the world can enjoy together, creating ‘North Port and Busan – places to return to again and again.’”