Busan Named 2028 World Design Capital: Stepping Up as a Global Design Hub
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Busan Named 2028 World Design Capital: Stepping Up as a Global Design Hub
□ Busan Metropolitan City has been honored by being named as the 2028 World Design Capital (WDC) by the World Design Organization (WDO).
○ The World Design Organization biennially distinguishes a city that employs design to catalyze economic, social, cultural, and environmental progress. The WDC program was inaugurated in 2008.
○ Busan becomes the 11th recipient of the title, joining other cities such as Seoul (2010), Helsinki (2012), and Valencia (2022).
□ For its winning bid, Busan championed the concept of ‘Inclusive City, Engaged Design,’ grounded in active involvement by local citizens in service design.
○ Last June, a WDO delegation inspected key sites: ▲ Very Very Good Bongsan Village, Yeongdo; ▲ Dongseo University; ▲ the Busan North Port Redevelopment Area; and ▲ F1963. These visits underscored Busan’s dedication to participatory design, design-focused education, and the alignment of public policy with design principles.
□ With community-led renewal initiatives at its heart, Busan exemplifies excellence in culture and infrastructure as well, ultimately outshining its final competitor, Hangzhou, China.
○ The World Design Organization noted, “Busan manifests strong potential for urban transformation through a creative design ecosystem. Its data-driven regional analysis and improvement strategies can act as a reference worldwide. We look forward to Busan making a meaningful impact not only within Korea, but also internationally.”
□ The official proclamation will take place in September during the 34th World Design Congress in London, the United Kingdom.
□ In partnership with the Design Council Busan, the city will now establish an implementation framework and embark on thorough planning and execution to showcase itself for the World Design Capital 2028.
□ Mayor Park Heong-joon commented, "This designation is a collective achievement by our citizens and a momentous milestone on our path toward building a prominent design destination.” He added, “Design is not just about aesthetics—it is about reimagining how we live in our neighborhood. I trust that the preparation process will communicate our vision as a major player in global design and contribute to an enhanced quality of life.”
