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Busan Metropolitan City to Host the ASEAN+3 Bond Market Triple Forum, Advancing the Future of Financial Innovation

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Chun Jae-soo) announced that it will host the ASEAN+3 (Korea, China, and Japan) Bond Market Triple Forum from November 2 to 6 at the Busan International Finance Center.

The international forum will bring together the regular meetings of three key working groups under the ASEAN+3 Asian Bond Markets Initiative (ABMI): the Digital Bond Market Forum (DBMF), the ASEAN+3 Bond Market Forum (ABMF), and the Cross-Border Settlement Infrastructure Forum (CSIF). The outcomes of the discussions will be reported to the ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers’ Meeting.

The Digital Bond Market Forum (DBMF), launched in 2025 under Korea’s leadership, promotes discussions on applying distributed ledger technology (DLT), tokenization, and other digital financial innovations to bond markets. The Busan meeting is expected to further advance concrete cooperation in these areas.

Approximately 150 representatives from ASEAN+3 finance ministries, central banks, financial supervisory authorities, and international financial experts are expected to participate.

Hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), organized by the Busan International Financial Promotion Center and BNK Financial Group, and jointly sponsored by Busan Metropolitan City and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the forum will feature policy sessions and expert discussions on digital bonds, cross-border settlement infrastructure, and sustainable finance.

Global speakers will also discuss strategies for expanding investment in environmentally friendly maritime sectors through Green Bonds and Blue Bonds, as well as DLT-based digital asset integration, presenting practical approaches to advancing Asia’s bond markets.

Busan Metropolitan City noted that successfully attracting the forum reflects international recognition of the city's strengths as an international financial center with competitive advantages in maritime and digital finance.

As Korea’s only Blockchain Regulation-Free Zone and the first of its kind nationwide, Busan has established a robust digital financial innovation ecosystem encompassing bond digitalization and tokenization. Supported by its globally competitive port, shipbuilding, and maritime industries, the city is well positioned to lead discussions on sustainable finance in the maritime sector.

Following its successful bid to host the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) Annual General Meeting in September, Busan has now secured the ASEAN+3 Bond Market Triple Forum, further strengthening its global profile and expanding its international financial network.

The forum also carries particular significance as the final regular ASEAN+3 meeting before Korea assumes the ASEAN+3 chairmanship in 2027. Discussions held in Busan are expected to help shape next year's ASEAN+3 policy agenda.

Busan Metropolitan City plans to use this international conference to further enhance its brand as an international financial center while strengthening cooperation networks with major Asian economies in digital finance and sustainable finance.

The city also expects to expand its role as an international financial hub by integrating digital finance, ESG-based sustainable finance, and the maritime industry.

By providing global financial institutions and policymakers with first-hand experience of Busan’s financial and maritime infrastructure and digital finance ecosystem, the event is also expected to lay the groundwork for attracting future international conferences, financial institutions, and expanded international cooperation.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “This Bond Market Forum is a meaningful opportunity for Korea to lead the digital transformation of bond markets while showcasing Busan’s competitiveness in maritime and digital finance to the world. We will continue strengthening our international financial competitiveness so that Busan can emerge as the leading maritime financial city in Northeast Asia and a global leader in digital finance and sustainable finance.”