Haeundae Special Tourist Zone Becomes Korea’s First Global Tourism Special Zone
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Haeundae Special Tourist Zone Becomes Korea’s First Global Tourism Special Zone
□ On July 31, 2026, the Haeundae Special Tourist Zone was selected as the first site under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Global Tourism Special Zone Development Project, aimed at creating extended-stay destinations and strategic regional hubs.
○ Designated in 1994, Haeundae is the country’s inaugural Special Tourist Zone. In preparing its bid, Busan Metropolitan City collaborated with Haeundae-gu to conduct thorough consultations and gather input from experts and stakeholders.
○ Busan submitted a future-oriented proposal integrating flagship content, visitor amenities, and innovative technologies. Following a rigorous evaluation by a review committee, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism formally granted Haeundae this status.
□ A total of six billion won, including three billion won from the central government, will be invested over two years from 2026 to 2027.
○ Rather than being allocated to facility construction, the funding will be dedicated entirely to expanding signature attractions and improving services. The 6.2-square-kilometer zone—encompassing Haeundae and Songjeong Beaches, Gunam-ro, the Busan Cinema Center, Nurimaru APEC House, BEXCO, and Dalmaji Hill—will be transformed into a centerpiece for immersive tourism in Busan.
○ Guided by the theme of ‘ALL-TIME HAEUNDAE: A Global Tourism Special Zone Where Day and Night, Work and Leisure Intertwine,’ Busan will introduce diverse year-round offerings, such as annual programs highlighting world-renowned IPs, monthly curated experiences along Dalmaji Road, weekly night festivals, and daily activities.
○ It will also operate 24-hour AI-powered unmanned information centers and smart payment solutions, allowing seamless access regardless of language. Intelligent CCTV will also be deployed to analyze crowd density and enhance overall safety.
□ In particular, Busan plans to address surges in accommodation rates observed during recent mega-events and promote transparency in the lodging sector by signing a cooperation agreement with the hospitality association within the Haeundae Special Tourist Zone.
○ Flexible checkout arrangements are expected to encourage longer stays.
□ With the addition of the Dong-gu Cruise Special Tourist Zone on July 8, Busan is now home to three Special Tourist Zones.
○ The city will continue facilitating efforts by each zone to leverage its respective assets to draw more overseas travelers and increase their length of stay in Busan.
□ Mayor Chun Jae-soo remarked, "Building on more than three decades of well-established infrastructure and solid brand recognition, the Haeundae Special Tourist Zone, a first of its kind for Korea since 1994, stands as the first recipient of the Global Tourism Special Zone initiative, reaffirming Busan’s tourism leadership.”
□ He stressed, "We will further strengthen Busan’s unique identity and appeal to make it a place where people from around the globe come to work, enjoy, and stay, while opening the way to an era of six million international visitors."
