2025 Citizen-Voted Best City Policies: A Year of Leaps Toward “Busan, Your Home for Today and Beyond”
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2025 Citizen-Voted Best City Policies: A Year of Leaps Toward “Busan, Your Home for Today and Beyond”
□ Busan Metropolitan City has shared this year’s most notable contributions to urban development and quality of life.
○ The Top 12 were identified based on the results of the 2025 Citizen-Voted Outstanding Policies survey, across two fields: ▲ Global Hub and ▲ Citizen Happiness.
○ Opinions were gathered from 2,263 participants, including citizens, civil servants, and journalists, between December 10 and 16, 2025.
What Busan Delivered in 2025
Global Hub
A milestone chapter for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in Busan
Holistic assistance for housing, family life, and leisure
✔ Approximately 2,000 officials and their families became new residents under five-area customized settlement support.
*A dedicated relocation task force; a comprehensive package covering 41 items in five areas
A transportation revolution originating in Busan and a national strategic project
✔ Busan Express Transit (BuTX) passed a private investment feasibility assessment.
* Planning (2021–2022), proposal submission (September 2023), feasibility assessment initiation (November 2023), final approval (October 2025)
Everyday sports as a source of urban vitality
The advancement of ‘Sports-for-All Paradise City 2.0’
✔ The Busan Seven Bridges Tour was successfully launched as the world’s largest urban marine bridge cycling festival.
*Busan-tailored events (e.g., Nakdong River Slow Triathlon Festa in Busan); an unprecedented central government funding for sports infrastructure (45.1 billion won)
Busan’s unique appeal unleashed across gastronomy, noctourism, festivals, medical tourism, MICE, and cruises
✔ Three million inbound travelers arrived in Busan for the first time, reaching a historic moment as a leading tourism destination.
* Positive domestic and international media coverage; progress into a leading tourism destination; strengthened competitiveness in MICE, medical care, and coastal recreation
A world-recognized design city
Innovation that redefines daily life
✔ Busan was selected as World Design Capital 2028, with an expected increase in city brand value exceeding one trillion won.
*More than one million projected designer visitors; an expected increase in city brand value exceeding one trillion won; meaningful strides toward a global design hub
Record-high employment to date
Over one million regular employees, an all-time high
Recipient of the Grand Prize for Metropolitan Cities at the National Local Government Job Awards
✔ The era of ‘One Million Quality Opportunities’ began, reinforcing the foundation for sustainable job creation.
*Highest employment rate (68.7%, September 2025), lowest unemployment rate (1.8%, October 2025), 1,003,000 regular employees (June 2025)
*Three consecutive wins at the National Local Government Job Awards (Excellence Prize, Special Prize, Grand Prize for Metropolitan Cities in the Disclosure category, September 2025)
Citizen Happiness
Two decades of dreams fulfilled
Seemingly impossible challenges addressed via dialogue, communication, and cooperation
✔ Geumjeongsan Mountain was designated as the country’s first urban national park in November 2025.
*Predicted effects: enhanced city branding, efficient management, inclusive economic growth
Busan Concert Hall
An encounter with classical music
✔ The Busan Concert Hall positioned Busan as a rising center for arts prominence.
*An iconic landmark; 50,000 guests at pre-opening park concerts; over 100,000 reservations after opening
‘Busan Cherishes and Nurtures Children Born in Busan’
✔ The ‘Cherish like You’ campaign introduced seamless parenting services, providing free nursery tuition for ages 3–5.
* Free nursery tuition for ages 3–5; distinctions at the National Brands Award and the Regional Balanced Development Commendation
A city that has my back
Reduced financial burdens through zero toll fees during rush hours
✔ Toll exemptions commenced during peak commute times to stimulate the local economy.
*Eulsukdodaekyo Bridge, Sanseong Tunnel (November 2025), Garak Tollgate (June 2026), Sujeongsan Tunnel (April 2027)
The smart choice for the future
Idle spaces transformed into family-friendly cultural platforms
✔ The Busan Children’s Complex ‘Deullak Nallak’ surpassed two million attendees.
*Upgraded content and offerings; a key anchor of the 15-minute city concept
From an 11-year-long unutilized site to a high-impact, triple-benefit asset
✔ The Gijang Seawater Desalination Plant was repurposed for water circulation and an industry breakthrough.
*Facilities for treated sewage reuse at the East Busan Industrial Parks (two lines) and seawater desalination demonstration (one line)
