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Busan Metropolitan City Closes All 8 Beaches for 2026, Setting a New All-Time Visitor Record

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that all 8 beaches in Busan had officially closed following the closure of Haeundae Beach on September 15.

The 8 beaches in Busan, including Haeundae and Songjeong beaches, which partially opened on June 26, concluded approximately three months of operation and closed for the season.

This year, the beaches in Busan attracted 22.53 million visitors, an increase of 2.54 percent from the previous year and a new all-time record. Visitor numbers exceeded 20 million for the second consecutive year, further demonstrating Busan’s standing as a world-class tourism city.

In particular, Haeundae Beach became the first beach in Korea to surpass 10 million visitors by the time it closed, further solidifying its status as one of Korea’s leading beaches.

Meanwhile, Songdo Beach welcomed 3.2 million visitors this year, up 5.96 percent from last year, establishing itself as another premier beach alongside Haeundae and Gwangalli.

As a leading beach in western Busan, Songdo Beach has seen a steady annual increase in domestic and international visitors, supported by nearby tourism infrastructure such as Songdo Cable Car and Amnam Park.

This year in particular, a wide range of festivals and experiential programs, including a floor fountain, the Songdo Enjoy Rock Festival, the Hyun In Song Festival, and an offshore diving platform, helped attract visitors seeking longer stays rather than simply traditional beach recreation.

Busan Metropolitan City also further strengthened safety management and public order measures at each beach to provide a safe and pleasant environment for beachgoers.

Electronic disaster information boards, banners, and regular public announcements were used to promote crowd-control measures, compliance with safety rules, and awareness of prohibited activities. Safety personnel were stationed at all times, while patrols during vulnerable hours were expanded. Foreign-language announcements were also provided for international visitors to enhance tourism preparedness.

Jellyfish prevention nets were installed at major beaches, while regular on-site inspections before and after the operating season ensured thorough management of water quality testing, safety facilities, and restrictions on nighttime swimming. In cooperation with district and county offices and the Coast Guard, the city also operated 119 Citizen Water Rescue Teams with the participation of firefighters and civilian volunteers, making every effort to prevent water-related accidents.

Even after the official beach operating season has ended, Busan Metropolitan City plans to continue safety management and public guidance activities to prevent accidents involving residents and visitors.

Safety personnel and guidance staff will continue to be stationed at each beach, with patrols and on-site inspections maintained and public messaging strengthened to discourage swimming.

The city will also post information signs and banners so that residents and visitors can easily recognize that the beaches are closed and will conduct regular safety announcements as part of its continued efforts to ensure safety after closure.

In November, Busan Metropolitan City plans to hold a review meeting on this year’s beach operations to comprehensively assess operational performance, address shortcomings, and incorporate improvements into next year’s beach management.

Officials from beach management authorities and related agencies, including fire services, the Coast Guard, and the police, will attend the review meeting to share this year’s achievements and areas for improvement and discuss future development strategies. Awards will also be presented to individuals who contributed to the operation and management of the beaches in 2026.

In addition, the city plans to evaluate the operational performance of all 8 beaches and use the results to determine differentiated allocations of municipal subsidies for the following year, thereby strengthening the quality and effectiveness of management and operations at each beach.

Na Yun-bin, Director General of the Tourism and MICE Bureau, said, “This summer, we made every effort in beach safety management and tourism content operations so that residents and domestic and international visitors to Busan’s beaches could stay and enjoy themselves safely.”

He added, “Building on this year’s achievements, we will address and improve areas that need further attention and create ‘Busan, a City of Marine Leisure Tourism’ that people will want to visit in every season through differentiated content planning and branding that reflect the distinctive environment and characteristics of each beach.”