Busan is good

Discussion on Advancing the “Busan International Architecture Festival” onto the Global Stage… The Busan International Architecture Festival Organizing Committee Holds Its 2026 Annual General Meeting

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□ Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will hold the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the Busan International Architecture Festival Organizing Committee (hereinafter, the Organizing Committee) today (the 12th) at 16:00 in the International Conference Hall on the 12th floor of City Hall.

□ Around 60 people, including key figures from Busan’s architectural community and Organizing Committee members, will attend the meeting to deliberate and decide on major agenda items, including: ▲Settlement of accounts for 2025 projects ▲Approval of the 2026 project plan and budget ▲Appointment of the 12th Executive Committee Chair.

○ In a congratulatory message, Mayor Park Heong-joon, Honorary Chair, is expected to note that the Busan International Architecture Festival—through steady growth and sound operation—has become one of the most actively run leading architecture festivals in the Republic of Korea, and to express his hope for its continued growth and development.

□ The city and the Organizing Committee plan to participate in the “International Union of Architects (UIA) World Congress of Architects 2026,” to be held this June in Barcelona, Spain, and to operate Busan’s first standalone pavilion, the “Busan Hall.”

○ The UIA World Congress of Architects is the world’s largest international event in the field of architecture and is often called the “Olympics of architecture.” The International Union of Architects (UIA), the organizing body, is the only international architectural organization recognized by the United Nations (UN), with approximately 1.3 million members across 124 countries.

○ The Busan Hall will operate from June 28 to July 2 at Disseny Hub Barcelona. Through this exhibition, the city and the Organizing Committee plan to introduce Busan’s differentiated urban and architectural vision and the competitiveness of local architects to the international community in earnest. In particular, by linking promotion with the “15-Minute City Busan” initiative and the achievement of Busan’s designation as World Design Capital (WDC) 2028, they intend to widely publicize Busan’s standing as a global city that combines a citizen-centered urban strategy with strong design capabilities.

□ Alongside efforts to advance internationalization, they will also work to build a regional architectural ecosystem in which citizens and local architects can grow together.

○ Through an architecture tour program for citizens, the HOPE with HUG project, and the Busan Spatial Forum, they will continue efforts to expand architecture’s public value and foster local urban and architectural discourse.

<2026 Project Plan>
ㅇ Exhibition: UIA World Congress of Architects Busan Hall (6.28–7.2 / Disseny Hub Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain)
ㅇ External Promotion: Architecture tours for citizens (year-round), video content featuring major architectural works (5 times per year)
ㅇ Academic: Busan Spatial Forum
ㅇ Projects: HOPE with HUG project (2–3 locations), international design competitions, academic research, etc.

□ An awards ceremony honoring contributors to the development of Busan’s architectural culture will also be held at the meeting.

○ The Busan Metropolitan City Mayor’s commendations and letters of appreciation will be presented to related institutions and individuals, including the Korea Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation, in recognition of their contributions to expanding architectural culture and realizing public value.

○ In particular, Kim Yong-nam, principal architect and CEO of Samhyeon Urban Comprehensive Architects, will receive a Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award in recognition of his contributions to promoting regional architectural culture.

□ For more information on the project, please contact the Busan International Architecture Festival Secretariat (Tel. 051-744-7728).

□ Mayor Park Heong-joon said, “This year will be an important turning point for the Busan International Architecture Festival as it takes a leap onto the global stage,” adding, “I hope these challenges and expansions will inspire citizens and instill pride, and serve as an opportunity to broaden the foundation of Busan’s architectural culture.”

□ He added, “I also expect it will play an important role as Busan moves forward as a global hub city.”