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ASEAN by the Sea… Busan Metropolitan City to Host “2026 Busan-ASEAN Week”

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that it will host “2026 Busan-ASEAN Week” for six days from October 6 to 11 at el-Arena on the ninth floor of Lotte Department Store Busan Main Branch in Busanjin-gu.

ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, comprises 11 countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

“Busan-ASEAN Week” is an international cultural exchange event that brings together citizens, ASEAN diplomatic missions in Korea, international students, and others. It has been held annually since 2020 following the successful hosting of the 2019 ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit. The event has established itself as an opportunity to continue strengthening cooperation between Busan and ASEAN while introducing citizens to the diverse cultures of ASEAN.

The opening ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m. on October 6, with around 100 domestic and international guests in attendance, including Oh Seok-keun, Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs of Busan Metropolitan City; ambassadors from ASEAN countries; heads of foreign diplomatic missions in Busan; and students and teachers engaged in international exchanges with ASEAN countries. The program will include opening remarks, congratulatory remarks, and celebratory performances.

This year’s “2026 Busan-ASEAN Week,” under the theme “Cruise ASEAN,” is designed to give visitors an opportunity to experience the cultures and attractions of all 11 ASEAN countries along a route progressing through “Departure-Discovery-Exchange.”

At the venue, visitors will be introduced to maritime legends, landmarks, traditional cultures, and other features of the 11 ASEAN countries. A range of interactive programs will also combine the distinctive character of Busan as a maritime capital with ASEAN cultures.

Major programs will include a workshop by Kamon Indigo, a Thai traditional natural-dye artist; a sand art performance inspired by ASEAN maritime legends; and a caricature experience featuring ASEAN-inspired elements.

In particular, this year’s event will be held at an easily accessible multipurpose cultural venue, allowing citizens to encounter ASEAN cultures naturally in their everyday lives and take part directly in a variety of programs.

The event is open to all citizens free of charge. Further details are available on the official Instagram account of the Busan Global City Foundation, @bgcf.official.

Oh Seok-keun, Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs of Busan Metropolitan City, said, “I hope ‘2026 Busan-ASEAN Week’ will give Busan citizens an opportunity to discover the diverse appeal of ASEAN and serve as a meaningful platform for exchange through which ASEAN countries can share their vibrant cultures with a wider audience.”