Busan is good

Recruitment for the First Half of the 2026 HAHA Campus Program

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will recruit participants aged 50 and older for the first half of the “2026 HAHA Campus Program” from March 16 to March 27.

The program will run for 12 weeks from April 6 to July 3, with classes held at the HAHA Campus Education Center and sports facilities located within Catholic University of Pusan.

A key feature of this year’s program is the significant expansion of recreational sports content. This follows Busan Metropolitan City’s selection in December of last year for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s “2026 Senior Sports Lecture Program” public contest project, which secured KRW 300 million in national funding over three years.

Busan Metropolitan City will operate a total of 33 courses through the HAHA Campus Program, broadly divided into “Sports Programs” and “Education Programs.”

The Sports Programs will be offered in beginner and intermediate levels across popular activities with increasing demand among older adults, including pickleball, tennis, table tennis, pocket billiards, ground golf, and walking (trekking).

Pickleball is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis.

The Education Programs include courses linked to Busan Metropolitan City policies—such as design and companion animal initiatives—including organization and storage and handmade pet snacks. They also feature self-development courses such as artificial intelligence digital utilization, senior instructor training, and senior modeling.

Any Busan resident aged 50 or older may apply through the QR code provided on promotional materials or through the Catholic University of Pusan website at https://www.cup.ac.kr.

The course fee is KRW 30,000 per class. Recipients of basic livelihood security are exempt from payment, while persons with disabilities, national merit recipients, and others eligible for similar support receive a 50 percent discount.

The HAHA Campus includes outdoor sports facilities such as a main field with artificial turf and a running track, pickleball and tennis courts, a senior health playground, the Yunsan Barrier-Free Sharing Trail, and a red clay trail. These facilities are freely available for use by all citizens.

Busan Metropolitan City plans to establish a dedicated HAHA Campus website within the first half of this year to provide integrated information on programs and facility use. The city will also promote the program through the Geumjeong-gu district newsletter and the Catholic University of Pusan website.

In addition, in the second half of the year, the city plans to host the “HAHA Sports Festival,” an intergenerational event in which participating seniors and their families can take part together, actively utilizing the existing sports facilities.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “With the significant expansion of recreational sports programs this year, it will be a meaningful year in which older adults can find both health and vitality,” adding, “We hope for the active participation of citizens so that HAHA Campus can establish itself as a representative space for Busan as an age-friendly and happy city.”