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Global Artificial Intelligence Hub City Busan Official Launch of the “Busan Metropolitan City Artificial Intelligence Committee” and Announcement of Vision and Strategy

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that today (23rd) at 3:00 p.m. in the Small Conference Room 1 of City Hall, it will hold the launch ceremony for the “Busan Metropolitan City Artificial Intelligence Committee” to realize a “Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hub City.”

<Busan Metropolitan City Artificial Intelligence Committee> - Legal basis: Ordinance on the Promotion of the Artificial Intelligence Industry and Activation of AI Introduction and Utilization in Busan Metropolitan City (promulgated July 9, 2025) - Composition: 25 members (2 ex officio, 23 appointed) *Chairperson: Mayor; Director General of Future Technology Strategy Bureau - Term: 2 years, renewable once - Role: Deliberation and resolution on matters related to the promotion of the AI industry and activation of AI introduction and utilization

This launch ceremony marks the beginning of the committee’s full-fledged activities, attended by 25 leading experts from academia, industry, and research. The program includes ▲ Proclamation of the launch and presentation of appointment certificates ▲ Vision and strategy report for “Global Artificial Intelligence Hub City Busan” ▲ Collection of expert opinions.

In particular, during the ceremony, the city will announce the plan to implement the “World-Class Marine Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hub Busan” in alignment with national AI policy and to maximize Busan’s industrial strengths. Central to this initiative is the “WAVE Project,” a KRW 1 trillion large-scale program designed to drive innovative growth in the shipping, port, and defense sectors.

The WAVE (World class AI Value for Ocean Economy) Project will focus on three major strategies:
▲ AI transformation (AX) in the shipping sector for realization of the Arctic route
▲ Creation of a next-generation AI-powered port city
▲ Development of an AI-based defense industry

• ●WAVE Project: World class AI Value for Ocean Economy
  ** AX (AI Transformation): Industry (transformation of industrial systems), Citizens (AI-based services for daily life), Administration (AI-based smart administration), Talent (education of professionals and field experts)

The City and the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency began project planning in August. Following the push for exemption from preliminary feasibility studies in the first half of next year, the project is expected to commence in 2027.

In March, Busan held the “Artificial Intelligence Strategy Conference” to announce four flagship AI projects and five infrastructure strategies, and in July, the city established a legal foundation by enacting the “Ordinance on the Promotion of the Artificial Intelligence Industry and Activation of AI Introduction and Utilization in Busan Metropolitan City.”

• ●Four flagship projects: Shared Equipment Center, AI Smart City (testbed), AI Hub (enterprises and research institutes), Education Platform, Quantum Advanced Research

• ●Five infrastructure strategies: [listed in the Korean text; interpreted as such]

With the establishment of the committee, public-private cooperation (governance) will now be fully activated, and concrete implementation measures in connection with government policies will be discussed.

Major tasks include:
▲ Establishment of Vertical AI Research Support Centers*** for R&D in seven domains (quantum, bio, culture, defense, energy and materials, manufacturing and mobility, eco-friendly and marine)
▲ Creation of an AI city
▲ Software Maestro program to train 150 advanced AI talents annually
▲ Establishment of international submarine cable landing stations**** and RE100 Ready Zones for renewable energy supply to attract global IT giants’ AI data centers

*** Vertical AI: AI specialized in specific fields and industries
**** Landing station: A country with facilities that connect submarine fiber-optic cables to land-based telecommunications networks

Meanwhile, today (23rd) at 2:00 p.m., the “Marine Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy Forum” will also be held on the 2nd floor of the Park Hyatt Hotel. Around 100 representatives from academia, industry, research, and government will attend, featuring keynote presentations on ▲ AI prospects in the maritime and fisheries sector and Busan’s role ▲ AI transformation of the marine industry ▲ Strategies for building an AI ecosystem.

A panel discussion will follow, focusing on cooperation models in light of the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan, and on directions for linking with national AI policy.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “At this pivotal moment when the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the national AI policy are accelerating, Busan is the optimal city to integrate AI into maritime, logistics, and industrial sites. Through this launch ceremony, we will create an innovative model that combines AI and the ocean, strengthening our international standing and developing into a new driving force for the joint growth of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, as well as for balanced national development.”