Busan is good

Busan Welcomes Korea’s Selection as the Host Country of the 4th UN Ocean Conference in 2028 and Will Make All-Out Efforts to Secure Busan as the Host City

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it welcomes the decision made on December 9 (local time) at the United Nations General Assembly designating the Republic of Korea as the host country of the 4th UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in 2028.

The UN General Assembly was held at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, where the Republic of Korea and Chile were selected as co-hosts of the 4th UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), which will take place in June 2028.

The UN Ocean Conference is the largest international conference in the maritime sector, with more than 15,000 participants, including representatives from the governments of 193 UN member states, UN bodies, NGOs, and the private sector.

The successful hosting is expected to serve as an important opportunity to drive innovation in domestic marine policies and expand international cooperation.

Meanwhile, Busan Metropolitan City has continuously advanced various promotional activities within the international community to pave the way for the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) to be held in the Republic of Korea. Efforts have included the successful hosting of the Our Ocean Conference (OOC) and securing Busan as the 2026 host city for the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) Forum, thereby expanding the foundation for global maritime cooperation.

To strengthen the international cooperation base required to become a global ocean hub city, the City established the “Global Ocean Cooperation Network Development Strategy” and has consistently built its capacity to attract and operate international events.

In addition, during the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) held from June 5–11, 2025, Busan participated in various global promotional activities. At an official side event hosted by Nice, France, the City presented its strategy for building a global ocean cooperation network and engaged in bilateral meetings with the Mayor of Valparaíso, Chile, actively carrying out diplomatic outreach to support Korea’s bid for the 4th UN Ocean Conference (UNOC).

Furthermore, Busan has demonstrated its strong capability in hosting major international conferences—most notably by successfully organizing the Our Ocean Conference (OOC) in Busan earlier this year. This achievement showcased the Republic of Korea as a reliable partner in global ocean cooperation. The City also strengthened its foundation for bringing the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) to Korea through its track record in attracting major events, including the confirmed hosting of the 2026 PNLG Forum in Busan.

Emphasizing that Busan is a city well prepared for international cooperation, the City expressed its commitment to making all-out efforts to ensure that the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), which has been secured for Korea, will also be held in Busan.

With the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan, along with the cluster of ocean policy research institutes in the Yeongdo–Dongsam Innovation District, Busan offers an environment conducive to meaningful policy discussions and research-based dialogue on ocean environment, industry, and climate issues addressed by the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC).

Based on these strengths, Busan plans to reinforce its preparations to ensure that the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) contributes to local policy outcomes and international cooperation, while concentrating efforts so that Busan can lead the process of becoming the selected host city.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) will serve as an important opportunity to elevate the Republic of Korea’s international profile and showcase our marine-focused strengths to the world,” adding, “We will work closely with the national government to bring the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) to Busan and ensure its successful implementation in connection with the Ministry’s relocation to the city.”