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Busan Metropolitan City to Host Season 7 of UN Weeks in Busan 2026, Bringing People Together to Build Peace

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Chun Jae-soo) announced that it will host UN Weeks in Busan 2026 across the city from tomorrow (October 23) through November 11 under the theme "From Remembrance to Participation: Building Peace Together in Busan."

UN Weeks in Busan is a series of peace-themed events held around United Nations Day (October 24) in Busan, home to the world's only United Nations memorial cemetery, to share the meaning of peace with citizens.

Now in its seventh year, the event focuses on making peace more accessible in everyday life and encouraging citizens to reflect on its significance through participation and hands-on experiences.

This year's UN Weeks in Busan features seven programs, beginning with the July launch ceremony for UNs, a diplomatic supporters group comprising Korean and international young people living in the region.

Major programs include the 81st United Nations Day Ceremony (October 23), an appreciation luncheon for representatives of countries that contributed troops and diplomats (October 23), ONE PEACE, an interactive peace initiative for citizens (October 16–November 1), and the World Peace Forum (November 2).

The 81st United Nations Day Ceremony, scheduled for 11:00 a.m. tomorrow (October 23) at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea, will bring together Mayor Chun Jae-soo, diplomatic delegations from the 10 countries whose fallen service members are interred at the cemetery, heads of foreign diplomatic missions in Busan, veterans' organizations, and military personnel. Participants will pay tribute to UN veterans and express gratitude to the countries that contributed troops.

As an accompanying event, the flags of participating countries and chrysanthemum flowers will be displayed at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea from today (October 22) through October 30 under the theme "Peace Blossomed Together by 22 Nations."

The exhibition is intended to provide an opportunity for citizens to reflect on the history of the countries that contributed troops and the sacrifices of their veterans while sharing a spirit of remembrance and gratitude.

This year, participatory content has also been expanded to allow citizens to experience the history and meaning of peace firsthand. The flagship mobile mission-based escape room program will extend its activities beyond the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea to Busan Citizens Park.

"Connecting Peace: WE GO TOGETHER, ONE PEACE" is an interactive digital program linking the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea and Busan Citizens Park, the former site of the Hialeah U.S. military base, into a single journey of peace.

Participants can complete missions using their smartphones while learning about UN veterans and Busan's history of peace. Exhibition and experience-based pop-up installations, along with photo zones, will also be available to help citizens engage with the meaning of peace in a more accessible way.

The World Peace Forum will take place on November 2 under the theme "Peace Diplomacy Connecting the World Through K-Culture."

Through a keynote address by the chairperson of the Kim Koo Foundation, a roundtable discussion with international organizations, and thematic presentations across various fields, the forum will explore peace diplomacy through K-culture and Busan's international role.

In particular, the forum will examine Busan's role as the host city of the 2028 UN Ocean Conference and a global maritime city from the perspectives of peace and solidarity, while exploring future directions for peace and international cooperation.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo is expected to state, "Busan is home to the world's only United Nations memorial cemetery and preserves a history of peace safeguarded through the sacrifices of UN veterans and the solidarity of the international community."

He is also expected to add, "I hope this year's UN Weeks in Busan will provide an opportunity for citizens to reflect on that history and experience the value of peace firsthand. We will continue to develop the event into an occasion where citizens and people around the world come together to build peace."