Busan is good

Busan Establishes Two Barrier-Free Zones at the Busan International Rock Festival… Realizing Design for All

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will promote the World Design Capital designation by creating two barrier-free zones for the first time at the “Busan International Rock Festival,” which will be held for three days from September 26 to 28 under the theme of “Design for All.”

This is a symbolic case in which Busan, designated as the World Design Capital (WDC) 2028, begins in earnest to realize social values and promote the public good through design.

< World Design Capital Promotion in Connection with the Busan International Rock Festival >

• ●Period: September 26 (Fri.) – September 28 (Sun.), 2025 (3 days)

• ●Venue: Two sites in Samnak Ecological Park (Samnak Stage and River Stage)

• ●Theme: Inclusive City, Design Built Together

• ●Slogan: “Design for All, Busan as World Design Capital 2028”

• ●Main Content: Establishing barrier-free zones linked to the Busan International Rock Festival, conveying WDC core values (inclusivity, accessibility, participation)

The creation of these barrier-free zones was initiated following inquiries and complaints regarding accessibility issues from people with disabilities and other mobility-impaired citizens who wished to participate in the festival.

In collaboration with the Busan Festival Organizing Committee, the city planned the barrier-free zones with the aim of creating an environment where everyone can freely enjoy the festival.

The barrier-free zones will be set up at the festival’s main stage, the “Samnak Stage,” and the popular “River Stage,” one at each site. Four staff members will be deployed in two shifts to ensure that diverse citizens, including persons with disabilities and the elderly, can enjoy performances without inconvenience.

Beyond simply improving accessibility, these zones will serve as a practical example demonstrating that design can bring positive changes to citizens’ lives.

Inside the barrier-free zones, signboards introducing Busan as the World Design Capital 2028 will be installed, along with QR codes allowing citizens to easily access related information. Structures such as ramps and handrails will also carry World Design Capital messages, emphasizing the delivery of design-driven messages.

Busan intends to take the designation as World Design Capital 2028 as a turning point, applying a design perspective to culture across the city to address social issues and lead citizen-centered transformation and urban innovation beyond aesthetics.

Ko Mi-jin, Director General of the Busan Future Design Headquarters, stated, “The World Design Capital is not just about changing the city’s appearance; it is an important opportunity to strengthen social responsibility and public interest through design innovation, and to bring real changes to citizens’ lives. The creation of barrier-free zones at the Busan International Rock Festival is expected to serve as an opportunity for ‘Design for All’ to expand across various events and urban spaces.”