Busan is good

Busan Metropolitan City Holds Promotional Event to Attract the “National Dental Research Institute” Amid the Enthusiasm of the National Sports Festival!

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that, on the day of the opening ceremony of the 106th National Sports Festival (October 17), it will host a public promotional event near the Busan Asiad Main Stadium to both celebrate the success of the festival and promote Busan’s bid to attract the National Dental Research Institute.

The event aims to welcome athletes and spectators visiting Busan from across the nation and to raise awareness of the necessity of establishing the National Dental Research Institute in Busan through a citizen-participation campaign.

The event is co-organized by Busan Metropolitan City and the Busan Dental Association, with participation from related organizations such as the Korea Dental Technicians Association, Korean Dental Hygienists Association, and the Korea Dental Industry Association.

In addition, regional representatives from academia, industry, research, and healthcare—including the Pusan National University School of Dentistry, Pusan National University Dental Hospital, Busan Technopark Foundation, and the Busan Institute of Science and Technology Promotion (BISTEP)—will also participate, strengthening the cooperative foundation to promote the establishment of the research institute.

The main programs include a Resolution Rally for the Establishment of the National Dental Research Institute in Busan and a slogan performance, a free mobile oral health check-up bus supported by Pusan National University Dental Hospital, and a signature campaign for public support of the institute’s establishment.

This event is designed to allow citizens attending the National Sports Festival to naturally join in Busan’s welcoming atmosphere and enthusiasm for hosting the institute.

Busan Metropolitan City possesses all the optimal conditions for establishing the National Dental Research Institute, including excellent medical infrastructure, world-class dental technology, and a robust dental industry ecosystem.

There are approximately 1,800 dental medical and industrial institutions in the city, including 1,353 dental clinics and hospitals and 489 dental laboratories, employing around 5,200 professionals—the third-largest workforce in the nation after the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions.

Furthermore, 11 universities, including Pusan National University’s School of Dentistry, continuously cultivate professionals such as dentists, dental technicians, and dental hygienists. In addition, implant-leading companies such as DIO Corporation and Cowellmedi Co., Ltd. are headquartered in Busan, further enhancing the city’s competitiveness in both industrial and human resource infrastructure.

Meanwhile, to ensure transparency and fairness in the site selection process for the National Dental Research Institute, Busan Metropolitan City has consistently proposed that the central government adopt an open competition rather than a designated appointment system when selecting the location.

Going forward, the city plans to continue engaging with the National Assembly, central government, and relevant institutions to advocate for a fair site selection process. At the same time, it will strengthen preparation through the operation of a dedicated task force (TF) and the advancement of its business plan to effectively highlight Busan’s competitiveness for the bid.

Jung Na-young, Director General of the Future Technology Strategy Bureau, stated,
“The dental industry is a rapidly growing, high value-added sector worldwide and a key field that will determine the future national competitiveness. This event is a meaningful occasion to raise awareness about the need to establish the National Dental Research Institute in Busan amid the excitement of the National Sports Festival. I ask for the active interest and participation of all citizens so that our city can take a leap forward as the central hub of Korea’s dental industry.”