Busan is good

Busan Metropolitan City Recruits “2026 Busan City Brand Partners” to Expand the City Brand with Local Businesses

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) and Design Council Busan (President Kang Pil-hyeon) announced that they will recruit participating companies for the “2026 Busan City Brand Partners,” which will create products and content using the Busan city brand, from today (Feb. 23) through March 27.

The “Busan City Brand Partners” is a program designed to bring the value of the Busan city brand to life through a wide range of products and content, expanding the city brand beyond a mere symbol into citizens’ consumption and experiences.

Companies selected as “Partners” will go beyond producing fan merchandise (goods) solely for product sales by using the city brand; instead, they will develop specialized content and pursue collaborative projects based on their professional expertise.

Eligible applicants include companies and organizations with a headquarters or branch office in Busan. Any entity that agrees with the purpose of expanding the city brand and has the capacity to implement it through products or content may apply.

Selected companies will receive practical support, including: a waiver of fees for using city-brand symbols; an opportunity to enter the brand shop in Gwangbok-dong, Jung-gu; and the use of produced items as visitor souvenirs at large-scale events hosted by Busan Metropolitan City.

In addition, this year Busan Metropolitan City plans to operate capacity-building programs—such as business networking and workshops—to promote collaboration among “Partners” companies.

Companies wishing to participate must download the application form from the Design Council Busan website (www.dcb.or.kr), complete it, and submit it by email to mjhorse@dcb.or.kr by March 27.

Busan Metropolitan City plans to conduct a comprehensive evaluation—covering company capabilities, brand expansion potential, and design and marketability—through an expert review panel, and select around 20 companies in April.

Meanwhile, Busan Metropolitan City operates the Busan brand shop “Big Shop (Busan is good Shop)” on Gwangbok-ro, Jung-gu, as a hub space for experiencing and expanding the Busan city brand.

On the first floor, it runs pop-up stores in collaboration with local companies, and on the second floor it displays and sells a variety of products using the city brand, serving as a platform where citizens and tourists can directly experience the Busan city brand.

Busan Brand Shop Overview
Name: Big Shop (Busan is good Big Shop)
Location: 87-1 Gwangbok-ro, Jung-gu (24-1 Gwangbok-dong 1-ga, former Busan Gwangbok-dong Post Office building)
Opening date: Nov. 25, 2024 (Mon)
Size: Total floor area 173.98㎡ (1st floor 97.88㎡, 2nd floor 76.10㎡)
Main facilities: City brand experience and exhibition hall (1st floor), goods (products) display and sales area (2nd floor)

Mun Jeong-ju, Director General of the Future Design Headquarters of Busan Metropolitan City, said, “City Brand Partners are a key driving force that naturally infuses Busan’s brand value into citizens’ daily lives,” adding, “We will actively support local companies with outstanding products so they can grow together with the ‘Busan’ city brand and help expand brand awareness at home and abroad.”