Busan is good

Busan Reclaims Second Place Overall After 52 Years Busan Metropolitan City Concludes the 106th National Sports Festival with an All-Time Record Achievement

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The seven-day festival that captivated the entire nation concluded with its closing ceremony at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium on the evening of October 23. Held across 82 venues in 50 sports disciplines, the event brought together about 30,000 athletes, who delivered inspiring performances throughout.

For a week, the flow of athletes and their families into nearby restaurants, accommodations, and tourist attractions generated great excitement among local small business owners. Many expressed joy, saying, “If every week were like this, life would be wonderful,” celebrating the festival’s significant economic impact.

Under the vision of “One Korea, United in the Global Hub City of Busan,” the National Sports Festival fostered nationwide harmony. The magnificent ceremonies directed by renowned producer Park Kalin and the rich cultural programs drew widespread public attention throughout the event period. Spectators praised the performances that vividly captured the essence and energy of the port city, calling them “the best ever” and expressing pride in being citizens of Busan.

The torch relay, featuring over 1,200 runners across 151 sections, symbolized the flame of hope and unity, culminating in a moving moment during the opening ceremony’s torch lighting.

Reflecting its theme as a festival “for the citizens, by the citizens,” the active participation of volunteers and supporters was particularly outstanding. Around 4,000 volunteers contributed warmly to the smooth operation of the festival by assisting with the opening and closing ceremonies, venue guidance, traffic and parking management, and promotional activities.

Meanwhile, approximately 16,000 citizen and student supporters enthusiastically attended competitions and cheered for the athletes, playing a key role in the event’s success.

The festival also offered a wide range of attractions and entertainment throughout the city. The promotional pavilion at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium provided visitors with unique sights, local delicacies, and events, while various cultural performances at Sajik Baseball Stadium and Haeundae Beach turned the entire city into a celebration ground.

Additionally, Busan operated the “Local Food Zone (tentatively named ‘CheSsélin’ and ‘CheTrucks’)” to provide convenient and enjoyable experiences for spectators and participants, promote the charm of Busan’s cuisine, and boost the consumption of local food products—thus revitalizing the local economy.

The approximately 2,000-member Busan delegation showcased exceptional athletic prowess built through years of training, achieving a historic turnaround and claiming second place overall, igniting pride among citizens. Busan earned a total of 56,870 points and 240 medals (66 gold, 57 silver, and 117 bronze), marking its first second-place finish in 52 years since the 54th festival in 1973.

In particular, Busan achieved remarkable victories:
– Sepaktakraw claimed the overall championship for the eighth consecutive year.
– Aerobic hip-hop won the overall title for the fourth consecutive year.
– Table tennis recaptured the overall title for the first time in 39 years since 1986.
– Boxing achieved its first-ever overall victory since joining the National Sports Festival in 1963.

Beyond being a sports competition, the festival served as a platform to showcase Busan’s history, culture, and future growth potential, enhancing its global status as a hub city and instilling deep pride in its citizens.

The final results of the 106th National Sports Festival are available on the Korea Sports Association’s website (meet.sports.or.kr/national/main.do).

In his farewell address, Mayor Park Heong-joon remarked, “This year’s National Sports Festival has shown the fun and appeal of Busan, and as envisioned—‘One Korea, United in the Global Hub City of Busan’—it will be remembered as a grand celebration of harmony and a significant mark in the history of Korean sports.”

He added, “Building upon the success of this festival, we will continue to develop Busan into an even better and more attractive global hub city.”