Busan is good

Busan Expands Cooperation with Mongolia Beyond Medical Tourism to Cultural and Tourism Exchange

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it successfully concluded the Blessing of Meeting medical tourism FAM tour, which took place from October 26 to 29 in connection with the production of the Mongolian documentary.

Twenty participants—including children of Mongolian workers residing in Busan, members of a traditional Mongolian performance troupe, and broadcasting professionals—took part in the tour. They explored Busan’s advanced medical infrastructure as well as unique attractions not easily found in Mongolia, such as the sea, wellness tourism, and gastronomy, while deepening cultural exchange between the two regions.

The entire process will be featured in a documentary focusing on Busan’s medical and wellness tourism, which is scheduled to air nationwide in Mongolia in early December. Through this broadcast, Busan aims to foster friendship and mutual development with Mongolia.

This initiative originated from the Busan delegation’s visit to Mongolia in August, conducted in collaboration with the Sain Uchral Foundation. The project is significant as it establishes a global cooperation model that combines medical, wellness, and cultural exchange programs.

The Blessing of Meeting event, now in its seventh year, invites the children of Mongolian workers in Busan to reunite with their families and experience Busan’s medical tourism opportunities. The event’s documentary version is broadcast throughout Mongolia as part of a social contribution effort.

In collaboration with the Sain Uchral Foundation, Busan prepared networking programs not only to promote its medical tourism resources but also to introduce Mongolia’s cultural and tourism assets to Busan citizens, thereby facilitating mutual exchange.

The visiting group toured Busan’s advanced medical facilities and wellness tourism sites, receiving youth-oriented health checkups at a specialized medical center and witnessing Busan’s high-quality medical standards and diagnostic systems firsthand.

They also participated in a healing and wellness tour at representative destinations such as Club The Oasis and Ahopsan Forest, along with culinary and marine tourism experiences, including yacht activities. Videos filmed using the Visit Busan Pass showcased the convenience and excellence of traveling in Busan.

During their stay, the Mongolian delegation performed twice at major events of the 1st Global City Tourism Summit, presenting traditional music and dance that promoted Mongolian culture globally and strengthened cultural ties with Busan.

At the Tourism Roadshow held on Haeundae Gunam-ro and at the official summit event on October 27, the Mongolian youth performance team impressed both citizens and summit participants with traditional instruments such as the morin khuur and folk dances, delivering a moving cultural experience.

Through this visit, Busan expanded its cooperation with Mongolia beyond medical tourism into the cultural and tourism industries, creating momentum for deeper bilateral exchange.

At a welcoming ceremony on October 28, both sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation in multiple areas—including healthcare, education, tourism, economy, and youth exchange—in celebration of the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Busan–Ulaanbaatar sister-city partnership in 2026.

Kim Hyun-jae, Director General of the Tourism & MICE Bureau, stated,
“Mongolia is a strategic partner for Busan’s medical tourism, and this visit marks the beginning of concrete cooperation for our mutual development. Busan will continue to expand active support for joint growth with Mongolia in fields such as healthcare, tourism, culture, and economy.”