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Busan Metropolitan City Selects Three Final Participants for the “2025 Youth World Class Development Project”

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced on September 3 that it had selected three final participants for the “2025 Youth World Class Development Project,” which aims to strengthen Busan’s global competitiveness, and that it will provide full support for them to grow into global innovation leaders.

The project, launched in 2021, is designed to identify promising young talents in Busan with high growth potential and systematically support them so they may advance as world-class leaders. It distinguishes itself as the only local government initiative in the country that provides up to 100 million KRW (approx. 70,000 USD) in capacity development funds per individual.

In particular, this year the “Future New Industries” category was newly established to expand opportunities to a broader range of young people.

Applications were accepted from April 1 to May 7. A total of 120 young people applied, 50 more than last year, marking a 71% increase in interest and participation. Following a three-stage evaluation process by an expert panel, three finalists were chosen. With the cooperation of KT&G, the final round of public evaluation was held at “Sangsang Madang Busan.” Alongside six expert judges, 24 Busan citizens participated as an evaluation panel, enhancing fairness by providing assessments from diverse perspectives.

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The three final selectees, who successfully emerged from fierce competition, are:

• ●Jinju Kim (Innovation Leader category, Victim Support Activist)

• ●Seungmin Yang (Culture and Arts category, Global Performance Producer)

• ●Hyunjun Kim (Future New Industries category, Water Supply Network Technician)

Jinju Kim has been active as a “victim support activist,” engaging in various activities such as media interviews, serving as a witness at National Assembly audits, and advising the Ministry of Justice, all to safeguard and restore the rights of crime victims. In 2024, she published the book “I Will Fight, Because I Am Alive” to promote proper public awareness of crime victims. She plans to enter law school and grow into a legal professional to protect victims’ rights and strengthen community safety nets.

Seungmin Yang is a “global performance producer” who has built a performing arts ecosystem based in Busan. His achievements include a script licensing contract with a West End production company in the UK, a six-city tour across three European countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Poland), and a three-year joint production MOU with New York’s experimental theater La MaMa. He intends to accelerate the global expansion of Busan’s performing arts content and contribute to establishing Busan as a global hub for performing arts.

Hyunjun Kim is a technician-entrepreneur dedicated to solving urban infrastructure challenges. To address issues such as aging and leaking water supply networks, he developed solutions that integrate artificial intelligence and digital twin technology. His technological competence has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Minister of Environment Award. He aims to expand his technology globally, advance Busan as a leading smart water management city, and contribute to nurturing young talent and regional development.

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Each of the three selected participants will receive up to 100 million KRW in capacity development funds over three years, distributed as 20 million KRW in the first year, 50 million KRW in the second year, and 30 million KRW in the third year.

These funds will allow them to focus on enhancing their capabilities through participation in professional education programs, training at prestigious overseas institutions, and opportunities for international networking.

Kim Gwi-ok, Director General of the Youth Industry-Academia Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “Through the Youth World Class Development Project, we will do our utmost to support Busan’s young talents so they may achieve innovative results and grow into leaders who can confidently compete on the world stage. We will also continue to advance policies that make Busan a city where young people can fully realize their potential.”