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Busan Metropolitan City to Host the 2026 Busan Craft Beer Masters Challenge

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Chun Jae-soo) announced that it will host the 2026 Busan Craft Beer Masters Challenge for three days, from October 16 to 18, at the landmark site in Busan North Port.

The city has held this event since 2018 as part of its initiative to support promising small-business sectors, with the aim of enhancing the competitiveness of local craft breweries and expanding sales channels for small businesses in related industries.

This year's event will take place against the backdrop of Busan North Port, highlighting the city's distinctive identity as a maritime city. A variety of programs will be offered, including an opening ceremony, a craft beer competition, pop-up stores, a small-business food zone and flea market, hands-on experience booths, and live performances.

In particular, the Busan Craft Beer Competition will recognize outstanding breweries based on a combination of evaluations by citizens and experts and on-site sales performance.

Throughout the event, a panel of ordinary citizens known as the "Viking Judges" (citizen judging panel), along with three experts in beer and gastronomy, will participate in the evaluation process. On-site sales results will also be taken into account, and the winning brewery will be announced and presented with a "Winner Certificate" on October 18, the final day of the event.

Through the competition, the city aims to raise public awareness of the quality of Busan's craft beer and strengthen the product competitiveness of participating breweries.

A pop-up store featuring eight craft breweries from Busan will be set up, along with additional activities showcasing a diverse range of products from local small businesses.

The small-business food zone and flea market will each feature 15 participating businesses. Hands-on experience booths will also offer activities such as making miniature craft beer glasses and taking photos at an artificial intelligence (AI) photo booth.

A designated picnic mat zone will be set up in the center of the venue for families, allowing visitors to relax comfortably while enjoying activities and performances.

Live stage performances will take place throughout the event. YouTuber Youth Desk will perform on October 16, the opening day, followed by singer Cyburger on October 17. On October 18, the final day, the program will feature a cheerleading performance by the Lotte Giants cheer squad and a performance by DJ Subin.

Tickets can be purchased in advance through the "Catch Exclusive" section of the Catch Table app or on-site at ticket booths within the venue.

Early-bird tickets are priced at KRW 12,000, while tickets for the "Viking Judges" (citizen judging panel) are priced at KRW 20,000.

Park Dong-seok, Director-General of the Citizen Economy Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, said, "We hope this event will provide Busan's craft breweries with an opportunity to showcase the excellence of their products to residents and tourists and expand their sales channels."

He added, "We also hope that residents will enjoy the diverse products and cultural offerings of local small businesses while discovering the unique appeal of Busan's craft beer."