Busan is good

Busan Metropolitan City to Host the World’s Largest and First Urban Sea Bridge Bicycle Festival, the “Seven Bridges Tour,” on September 21

내용

Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that the “2025 Seven Bridges Tour: Riding in Busan,” the world’s largest urban sea bridge cycling festival, will take place across Busan on September 21.

This event will be the first in the world to connect four urban sea bridges in a large-scale cycling event. A total of 3,000 domestic and international riders will participate, aiming to promote Busan’s brand as a city of sports and tourism worldwide.

Participants, depending on the course they registered for, will choose between the [Advanced] 77-kilometer “77 Course” or the [Beginner/Intermediate] 33-kilometer “33 Course,” allowing them to enjoy Busan’s iconic “Seven Bridges,” coastal lines, Busan Port, and the Nakdong River.

On the day of the event, participants will gather at BEXCO at 5:45 a.m. and move in a group pre-ride, guided by safety staff, to the upper deck of Gwangan Bridge. Individual entry will not be permitted due to traffic control and safety concerns. Participants must check their designated gathering time by course and review the safety guidelines provided in advance.

• ●[77 Course] BEXCO ↔ Gwangan Bridge ↔ Sinsundae Underpass ↔ Busan Harbor Bridge ↔ Namhang Bridge ↔ Cheonma Tunnel ↔ Jangpyeong Underground Tunnel ↔ Eulsukdo Bridge ↔ Maekdo Ecological Park (Rest Area & Turning Point)

• ●[33 Course] BEXCO ↔ Gwangan Bridge ↔ Sinsundae Underpass ↔ Busan Harbor Bridge ↔ Namhang Bridge ↔ Cheonma Tunnel Entrance (Rest Area & Turning Point)

The City has placed safety as its top priority in preparing this event, aiming to elevate the “Seven Bridges Tour” beyond a citizen participation program into a “world-class sports and tourism content.”

On the afternoon of September 16, Mayor Park Heong-joon presided over a final safety inspection meeting, attended by officials from the City, Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, Korea Coast Guard, Busan Fire & Disaster Headquarters, Busan Infrastructure Corporation, BEXCO, Busan Sports Council, Busan Bicycle Federation, Busan Festival Organizing Committee, and deputy heads of the seven districts along the course (Haeundae-gu, Suyeong-gu, Nam-gu, Yeongdo-gu, Seo-gu, Saha-gu, Gangseo-gu). Together, they reviewed the final safety measures.

During the meeting, key issues were discussed, including the repair status of road potholes, installation of bridge joint safety covers, cleaning of all road surfaces, air quality management in underground tunnels, and alternative bus routes. Joint on-site inspections and discussions among safety-related agencies focused on measures to address potential safety concerns.

For further safety, the City designated key points of concern for intensive management, including the start/finish point on the upper deck of Gwangan Bridge, supply stations at Cheonma Tunnel Entrance and Maekdo Ecological Park, the rotary ramp of Busan Harbor Bridge, and Yeongdo residential roads. On the event day, the Police Traffic Control Center and individual bridge traffic centers will monitor the course in real time via CCTV, with over 1,000 professional safety and security personnel deployed throughout the entire course alongside police and fire personnel.

In particular, at the signature rotary ramp of Busan Harbor Bridge, more than 40 professional security and safety personnel will be stationed, and ambulances with paramedics will be deployed at each entrance and exit for immediate response to accidents. Additionally, more than 40 medical staff including firefighters and doctors, 15 ambulances, two medical booths, and connections to designated emergency hospitals will ensure preparedness for emergencies.

The City is also taking special care to minimize inconvenience to citizens from large-scale traffic controls. On the event day, roads along the course will be fully or partially closed, and will be reopened in stages after safety inspections once the cycling procession has passed.

To minimize inconvenience for cargo trucks, commercial vehicles, and public transit users, prior public announcements and on-site guidance will be strengthened. Detailed traffic control information is available on the City’s official website (busan.go.kr), the event’s official website (busan7bridges.com), and Instagram (@busan7bridges).

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “The ‘Seven Bridges Tour’ is a bicycle race across the world-renowned waters of Busan, growing into a festival that promotes Busan’s unique charm of blending sea and city, beyond just a sporting event. With creative content embodying Busan’s life and culture, it will serve as a new turning point in transforming Busan into a city where marine, sports, and tourism converge, attracting the world’s attention.”