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Experience, Shop, Learn, and Enjoy in Busan! Five Companies Selected as the "2026 Busan Tourism Star Companies"

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Busan Metropolitan City, together with the Busan Tourism Organization, announced that the Busan Tourism Enterprise Support Center has finalized the selection of five companies as the "2026 Busan Tourism Star Companies," recognizing businesses expected to lead the future of Busan's tourism industry and expand onto the global stage.

A total of 17 promising local tourism companies applied for this year's program, resulting in a competition ratio of 3.4 to 1. Following document screening and presentation evaluations, five companies were selected.

Beginning this year, the program has been restructured to move beyond simple financial assistance and instead provide a comprehensive support system focused on fostering Busan's flagship tourism brands and promoting their sustainable growth.

The evaluation committee selected the final companies through a comprehensive assessment of their regional contributions, content competitiveness, global expansion potential, and overall impact. These companies will be intensively nurtured as key drivers of Busan's tourism industry.

The five companies selected as the "2026 Busan Tourism Star Companies" are Nanugi World Co., Ltd., Neulpureunbada Co., Ltd., Deliverbird Korea Co., Ltd., FGK Co., Ltd., and S.O.K management.

Nanugi World Co., Ltd. is an educational tourism company that attracts students from Mongolia, Vietnam, Thailand, and other countries to Busan through its educational network across Asia. Through its long-stay educational tourism model based on the concept of "Learn, Experience, and Return," the company has attracted more than 6,000 international students to date and is building an inbound tourism ecosystem that transforms Busan into one integrated campus, encouraging both study abroad and repeat visits.

Neulpureunbada Co., Ltd. is the local company behind Busan's iconic fish cake brand, Goraesa Fish Cake. Centered on the "Fish Cake Road" connecting major tourist destinations such as Bujeon, Haeundae, and Jagalchi, the company operates retail stores and experience centers, expanding Busan fish cakes into a signature tourism product sought by visitors. It is also growing into a global tourism product company through overseas expansion into markets including the United States and Canada.

Deliverbird Korea Co., Ltd. is a tourism technology company providing purchasing, international shipping, and reverse direct-purchase services for K-brand products to consumers in 220 countries. By enabling international visitors to continue purchasing K-fashion, K-beauty, and K-food products they discovered while traveling in Korea after returning home, the company transforms one-time tourism spending into ongoing repeat purchases. It also serves as a platform that expands overseas sales channels for Busan's local brands.

FGK Co., Ltd., operator of Lee Jae-mo Pizza, is a locally established restaurant brand that has become synonymous with a "must-visit dining destination" in Busan, with locations centered in Gwangbok-dong, Seomyeon, and Busan Station. Through carefully selected ingredients, thoughtfully designed waiting areas, people-centered management, strong employee retention, and active social contribution, the company has become a symbol of Busan's culinary tourism and is widely recognized as a representative example of transforming "a meal in Busan" into a travel destination in itself.

S.O.K management is a MICE-specialized company that directly designs event productions and community-based festivals. Providing one-stop services covering planning, video production, marketing, international protocol, and safety management, the company has developed distinctive local content for Busan through proven projects such as the Chinatown Festival and the Yongdusan Park Night Pop-up.

The selected companies will receive marketing support through the promotional channels of Busan Metropolitan City and the Busan Tourism Organization, along with assistance for content production and participation in open innovation events to strengthen their brand recognition.

During the first year of designation, each company will receive KRW 20 million in commercialization funding to support key business initiatives, including product enhancement, digital transformation, marketing, and overseas market expansion.

In addition, through the newly introduced linkage with the Busan Metropolitan City Outstanding Company Certification program, the designated companies will receive practical business incentives for three years, including toll discounts on the Gwangan Bridge and preferential access to policy financing for small and medium-sized enterprises.

In September, an open innovation event will be held together with the official presentation ceremony for the Busan Tourism Star Company certificates and plaques.

Na Yoon-bin, Director General of the Tourism and MICE Bureau, said, "The Busan Tourism Star Company program is a flagship initiative for discovering and fostering companies that represent Busan's tourism industry. As we have significantly strengthened the practical benefits available to participating companies this year, we will actively support them in growing into representative brands that enhance Busan's tourism competitiveness and develop into globally recognized enterprises."