Busan is good

Busan to Host 2026 Korea Southern Coast Cup, Linking Busan, Tongyeong and Yeosu by Sea

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that it will host the 2026 Korea Southern Coast Cup from today, Sept. 3, through Sept. 6 in partnership with Gyeongsangnam-do and Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City.

The Korea Southern Coast Cup is Korea’s only interregional international cruiser yacht race linking Busan, Tongyeong in Gyeongsangnam-do and Yeosu in Jeonnam-Gwangju. The three metropolitan and provincial governments have jointly held the event since 2020 to promote mutually beneficial development in the southern coastal region and revitalize marine tourism through yacht racing.

Now in its seventh year, this year’s event will bring together approximately 300 athletes from eight countries for exciting competition against the backdrop of the southern coast’s scenic shoreline.

The competition will begin with Race 1 in the waters of Gamak Bay in Yeosu on Sept. 4, followed by Race 2 from Yeosu to Tongyeong on Sept. 5 and Race 3 from Tongyeong to Busan on Sept. 6, along with public experience programs in each participating region.

In particular, two races will be held on Sept. 6, one from Tongyeong to Busan and another in Tongyeong. The Tongyeong-to-Busan course, at approximately 60 kilometers, is the longest section of this year’s event and is expected to take about eight hours.

Awards ceremonies will be held later that day at The Bay 101 in Busan and Donam Port in Tongyeong, bringing the overall event schedule to a close.

The opening ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 4 on a special stage at Ungcheon Marine Culture Park in Yeosu.

With athletes and distinguished guests in attendance, the ceremony will include the declaration of the opening and the return of the championship trophy. It will be followed by the Southern Coast Marine Festival, offering residents and visitors an opportunity to enjoy the festivities together.

In conjunction with the competition, a variety of related events will also be held in each participating region over three days from Sept. 4 to 6, including marine sports experiences for residents, a youth yacht regatta in Gyeongsangnam-do and the IQ-Foil Professional Championship in Busan.

In Busan, free programs will be offered around the Yeongdo Fishing Village Experience Center, including sightseeing boat rides at Hari Port and natural seaweed soap-making. The sightseeing boat program at Hari Port may be operated subject to weather conditions. For further information, contact the Busan Yacht Association at 051-747-1768.

The IQ-Foil Professional Championship will also be held at Korea Maritime & Ocean University. IQ-Foil is a windsurfing discipline in which the board is lifted above the surface of the water and propelled by wind power. The competition will be divided into high school and open divisions, with 15 professional athletes from Korea and overseas expected to participate.

Na Yun-bin, Director General of the Tourism and MICE Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, said, “The Korea Southern Coast Cup is a flagship marine leisure event that showcases the appeal of marine tourism along the southern coast linking Busan, Gyeongsangnam-do and Jeonnam-Gwangju to audiences at home and abroad. Through this competition, we will strengthen interregional cooperation and work to broaden the foundation for marine leisure tourism.”