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Busan is developing rapidly, firming up its status as an international conference city.

According to Busan and the Korea Tourism Organization, Busan ranked 27th in international conferences hosted in 2008, in figures released by the Union of International Associations or UIA for 2008. This is a huge jump of 18 steps from Busan’s previous rank, 45th, in 2007.

The year 2005 marked the first time Busan was ranked among the top 10 international conference cities in Asia, and last year Busan made it to sixth. The number of conferences in the city also increased 43 percent.

The UIA is an institute that tracks all international conferences lasting three days or more, with over five participating countries and 300 participants, 40 percent or more of whom come from overseas.

The number of conferences that meet UIA standards that took place in Busan soared from six in 2004 to 23 in 2005, 42 in 2007 and 60 in 2008.

Part of this rise comes because Busan has designated international conferences as one of its 10 strategic goals since the Busan 2005 APEC Summit, and has developed facilities for tourism and conventions. The city also signed a joint marketing agreement with the Busan Convention and Visitors Bureau, BEXCO, hotels and other universities and was very active in promoting itself.