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Busan and Liverpool, Two Port Cities, Connect Through Youth, Culture and the Maritime Sector! 2026 Eurasia City Diplomacy Delegation Wraps Up Its UK Program

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, and the Busan Global City Foundation announced that the 2026 Eurasia City Diplomacy Delegation concluded its 12-day, 10-night journey after conducting seminars, youth and cultural exchanges, and city-to-city exchanges in the maritime sector in Liverpool and London, the UK, from September 1 to 3.

In Liverpool, the program focused on expanding exchanges among universities, young people, and residents based on the common identity of Busan and Liverpool as port cities. In London, the delegation visited the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), with an emphasis on broadening perspectives on Busan as a global maritime city.

On the afternoon of September 2, the Busan-Liverpool Cooperation Seminar was held at the Foresight Building of Liverpool John Moores University.

With 31 members of the city diplomacy delegation joined by students and faculty from the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, the seminar featured lectures and question-and-answer sessions on three themes: public art and city branding using global-city perspectives and media and storytelling; transport digital twins; and Korean music research.

In particular, University of Liverpool Professor Kwon Hee-seo presented examples of cooperation between Liverpool and Busan under the theme “Liverpool × Busan Transport Digital Twin Cooperation Case Study.” She shared with young participants how the two cities have used transport data to understand urban challenges and explore opportunities for cooperation.

The seminar also included a lecture on public art by Liverpool John Moores University Professor Emma Roberts, a session on media and city branding, and a presentation by University of Liverpool Professor Um Hye-kyung on Korean music research and career pathways. Through topics encompassing urban culture, media, transport, and music, participants broadened the scope of university and youth cooperation between Busan and Liverpool.

At 6:30 p.m. the same day, “Busan Day in Liverpool” was held at the John Lennon Art & Design Building of Liverpool John Moores University with some 200 local residents.

The venue featured booths providing information on Busan’s culture, tourism, and study opportunities, along with photographs and promotional videos documenting the delegation’s activities, Busan souvenirs, and culinary experiences. Two local young people were appointed to the honorary role of “Global Youth Ambassador in Liverpool” and entrusted with serving as bridges for people-to-people diplomacy connecting young people in Busan and the UK.

Performances followed by Busan’s youth delegation, including beokku dance, taekwondo dance, and K-pop, as well as by local UK performance groups and Korean singer Cho Seong-jun, who is based in the UK. Participants shared the culture and energy of the two cities through a flash mob. On September 1, the previous day, the delegation staged a K-pop performance and flash mob at Liverpool ONE, a site revitalized through an urban regeneration project. Youth delegation members also appeared on BBC Radio Merseyside to promote “Busan Day in Liverpool” to local audiences.

• ●Beokku dance is a traditional Korean folk dance performed while wearing and playing a small traditional percussion drum called a beokku in rhythm with the music.

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On September 3, the delegation concluded its UK itinerary with a visit to the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London.

The city diplomacy delegation toured key facilities at IMO headquarters and learned about the organization’s role in ensuring the safety of international shipping and protecting the marine environment. As citizens of a global maritime city that is home to the Port of Busan, the young participants had an opportunity to deepen their understanding of international maritime regulations and the role of the port sector.

Meanwhile, the Eurasia City Diplomacy Delegation, led by delegation head Song Woo-hyun and deputy head Jeong Young-soo, visited major cities in China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the UK over 12 days and 10 nights from August 24 to September 4. Around 60 participants, including young people and representatives from businesses, universities, and public institutions, took part as “One Team Busan,” connecting support for local companies’ overseas expansion, exchanges involving global talent and young people, cooperation in the cultural and maritime sectors, and promotion of Busan’s city brand into a single journey.

In Shanghai, the delegation expanded networks for economic, youth, and cultural cooperation through business consultations and friendship exchanges. In Almaty, a Busan-Almaty bilateral meeting explored ways to broaden exchanges across multiple sectors based on direct air services. The delegation also expanded connections with future generations and the Korean diaspora through a visa information session, a visit to a Korean-language school for ethnic Koreans, and “Busan Day in Almaty.”

In Tashkent, the delegation donated approximately 500 Korean-language books to four institutions, including the National Children’s Library of Uzbekistan, and signed a memorandum of understanding between Busan Library and the National Children’s Library of Uzbekistan for regular book exchanges. It also introduced children, young people, and residents to Busan and Korean culture through “Busan Day in Tashkent,” which featured Korean cultural experiences and a screening of the Korean film “The Man Who Lives with the King.”

Oh Seok-keun, Vice Mayor for Future Innovation of Busan Metropolitan City, said, “Busan and Liverpool share much in common: both are connected to the world through their ports and have built their urban identities through the power of culture. I hope this exchange will lead to sustained cooperation between the two cities and further strengthen Busan’s capabilities as a global maritime city.”

He added, “We will continue to expand city-to-city exchanges involving young people, businesses, and universities through the Eurasia City Diplomacy Delegation, and we will work to ensure that the relationships built during this journey develop into substantive cooperation.”