Busan is good

A Great Leap Forward for Busan in 2026: Busan Natives Living Outside the City Join Forces to Advance “Global Hub City Busan”

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will host a New Year’s gathering today (the 14th) at 15:00 at Lotte Hotel Seoul (Jung-gu, Seoul) for Busan natives living in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Around 400 Busan natives living in the Seoul metropolitan area—active as key figures of the Republic of Korea across politics, the economy, education, culture, and other fields—will attend. From Busan, Mayor Park, the Chairperson of the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and local business leaders are expected to participate.

This event is jointly hosted by Busan Metropolitan City, the Busan Metropolitan City Council, and the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Event Overview: 2026 New Year’s Gathering of Busan Natives Living Outside the City

• ●Date/Time & Venue: 15:00–16:30 on Jan. 14, 2026 (Wed) / Crystal Ballroom (2F), Lotte Hotel Seoul

• ●Hosted by: Busan Metropolitan City, Busan Metropolitan City Council, Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry

• ●Attendance: Approximately 400 people

• ●Program: Briefing on major municipal issues, New Year’s remarks from Busan natives living outside the city, Busan Vision Ceremony, and more

The event will be held in a variety of segments, in order: a performance by the Jaegyeong Busan High School Alumni Choir “Asurai,” Mayor Park’s briefing on Busan’s future vision, a ceremony, proposals from Busan natives living outside the city for Busan’s development, and a congratulatory performance.

The opening performance will begin with the Jaegyeong Busan High School Alumni Choir “Asurai” (Head: Seo Byeong-ho; Conductor: Oh Seong-ju). It will provide a meaningful opportunity to create the event together with Busan natives living outside the city. The Asurai Choir consists of 40 Busan High School graduates and is active in a range of choral volunteer activities and in holding an annual regular concert. In today’s performance, they plan to sing songs such as “Come Back to Busan Port” and “Is My Love Coming,” conveying their support for their hometown, Busan.

During the main program, the “Busan Future Vision Briefing,” Busan Metropolitan City will share with attendees the achievements Busan has expanded, elevated, and unlocked—enhancing their pride as people of Busan—and will present its vision for building “Global Hub City Busan” beyond being the hub of the Republic of Korea in 2026.

In the “Busan Vision Ceremony” that follows, participants will reaffirm their commitment to join forces with Busan natives living outside the city to advance Busan’s development toward becoming a global hub city, accompanied by a laser performance. The congratulatory performance will be delivered by singer Jeong Seo-ju, a trot singer from Busan who is currently serving as a public relations ambassador for Busan Metropolitan City, presenting an upbeat stage.

In addition, Busan Metropolitan City plans to install a promotional booth at the entrance to promote the Hometown Love Donation Program, along with various Busan specialty products offered as thank-you gifts. Last year, the city achieved its highest-ever donation total of more than KRW 4.2 billion, ranking first in fundraising among special and metropolitan cities. At this event, the city introduced designated-donation projects to be promoted in 2026, including “A Donation That Saves My Family’s Life,” and requested continued interest in supporting the development of Busan.

Mayor Park Heong-joon is expected to say, “In 2025, we truly felt that Busan’s goal of ‘Global Hub City’ is not a distant future but is within sight,” adding, “When all people of Busan join forces, Busan will stand tall as a global city, and with that strength the future of the Republic of Korea will change. I ask all Busan natives living outside the city to join forces for Busan’s leap forward in 2026.”