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Busan Metropolitan City Earns Top “S” Rating in 2026 Annual Review of the Regional Growth Talent Development System (ANCHOR)!

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that it received the highest possible rating, an “S,” in the Ministry of Education’s 2026 Annual Review of the Regional Growth Talent Development System (ANCHOR), based on 2025 performance.

The annual review comprehensively evaluated first-year performance under the Regional Growth Talent Development System (ANCHOR), including the program implementation structure and governance, the outcomes of individual projects, and the appropriateness of program management. By earning the top “S” rating, Busan Metropolitan City has secured additional performance-based funding incentives.

Busan Metropolitan City received high marks for systematically implementing talent development programs tailored to regional characteristics and needs while establishing a collaborative framework involving local universities, industries, and regional innovation organizations, thereby laying the groundwork for tangible results.

In particular, the City, together with the dedicated implementing agency, the Busan ANCHOR Center, established a collaborative framework involving universities and regional innovation organizations and created a stable governance structure for program implementation, including measures to strengthen the independence and expertise of the dedicated agency. These efforts were evaluated positively.

The City also received high marks for flexibly implementing individual projects in consideration of each university’s circumstances and characteristics, expanding collaboration among universities throughout the implementation process, and identifying and sharing best practices from individual universities so that they could be disseminated across the region.

This achievement is especially significant because it was not accomplished by the City and any particular university alone. Rather, it was the result of the active participation and cooperation of 20 universities in Busan working toward the shared goal of jointly nurturing the region’s future talent.

While carrying out a wide range of programs that capitalize on the strengths and characteristics of individual universities, the participating institutions expanded inter-university cooperation through shared curricula and infrastructure, jointly operated programs, and talent development initiatives linked to regional industries.

Through these efforts, Busan has laid the foundation for a Busan model of the Regional Growth Talent Development System, moving beyond programs centered on individual universities toward a system in which the entire region works together to develop talent and share results.

Building on its “S” rating, Busan Metropolitan City plans to further strengthen investment in high-performing projects that have a significant impact on regional talent development during the second year of the program, based on the achievements of the first year.

In particular, the City will expand curricula and joint educational programs linked to regional industries, as well as sharing and collaborative initiatives among universities. It will also promote the dissemination of best practices throughout the region so that the program’s achievements can extend beyond universities to regional industries and local communities.

In addition, the City plans to establish a sustainable foundation for regional innovation and growth by creating a virtuous cycle in which talent needed by Busan’s future growth industries is trained locally, employed by local companies, and encouraged to build lasting careers and lives in the region.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “Achieving the ‘S’ rating is not the result of Busan Metropolitan City’s efforts alone, but a valuable accomplishment made possible by 20 universities in Busan coming together to consider the region’s future and work toward a shared goal.”

He added, “We will continue to strengthen a talent development system that promotes collaboration beyond institutional boundaries and connects universities with regional industries, creating a foundation that enables people to learn, work, and build their lives in Busan.”