The City of Busan announced the top 10 achievements of the municipal administration in 2013 according to a public survey.


① The Sanbokdoro or ‘Hillside Road Renaissance Project

The Hillside Road Renaissance Project has become a creative city model. The project has transformed hillside road areas into tourist attractions as well as revitalized local economies. Voted the best ‘Community Restoration Project’ in Korea, the project was awarded the President Prize. The project was also featured in articles of some of the world’s leading media outlets like CNN and Le Monde.

② Yeongdo Bridge

Yeongdo Bridge serves as a bascule bridge once again after 47 years. The bridge which connects Jung-gu and Yeongdo Island, first opened on November 23, 1934, as the first of its kind in Korea. However, due to increased traffic volumes in the downtown area, the bridge ceased to act as a bascule bridge in 1966. In 2007, work began on a project to restore the bridge and it was successfully reopened on November 28, 2013. The bridge is now lifted once a day at noon for 15 minutes. It takes about two minutes for the 31 meter long, 590 ton bridge to be lifted to a 75-degree angle.

③ Busan Citizens’ Park

Busan Citizens’ Park, on the site of the former US Army base Camp Hialeah, was finally returned to the City of Busan after 100 years and is scheduled to be completed in April 2014. The world class park includes walking paths, a history museum, a theater and will also be home to over 500,000 trees including 93 di fferent s pecies.

④ Bupyeong Kkangtong Night Market

Bypyeong Kkangton Night Market in Jung-gu opened on October 24, 2013, and has become the first permanent night market in Korea. The number of visitors reaches a daily average of 3,000 throughout the week with the weekend average hitting 5,000. It has become one of the must see destinations in the city and is very popular among Japanese and Chinese tourists. The night market will be expanded to 300 meters in length with roughly 100 vendor stalls by April 2014.

⑤ Busan receives WHO safe community designation.

The City of Busan is now internationally recognized as a safe community by the World Health Organization (WHO). Being the first metropolitan city in the world to receive the honor, Busan implemented over 300 programs targeted at improving safety for residents with help from more than 170 community groups and organizations over the past five years. The recognition is not only a testament to the city’s hard work but has also strengthened its brand image.

⑥ Gwangan Bridge Renovations

This past year, one of Busan’s most iconic landmarks was transformed with the installation of thousands of LEDs. The project, the largest of its kind in the world, also included fitting lamp posts along the waterfront with speakers to all ow visitors to experience the beautiful views of Gwangan Bridge fully illuminated while enjoying listening to music.

⑦ Financing for the Geoga Bridge

The city reduced its financial burden on the Geoga Bridge connecting Busan and Gyeongnam Geoje by over 5.3 trillion won.


⑧ Relocation of media-related public institutions

The Korea Media Rating Board, the Korean Film Council, and the Game Rating and Administration Committee have all been moved to Busan from Seoul. The relocation of Korea’s three major film and media-related public institutions will lead the way to Busan becoming a mecca for the film industry in Korea.

⑨ Development of Western Busan

The City of Busan made progress in all areas of the first stage of construction of the international logistics and industrial complex around the Gangseo area, the Nakdong river estuary as well as the Eco Delta City Waterfront Renovation Project. The West Busan era has begun.


⑩ Ecological parks

A total of five parks including Samnak, Hwamyeong, Maekdo, Daejeo and Eulsukdo ecological parks were opened to the public along the riverside of the Nakdong River and all have become popular among residents. The parks are equipped with various sports facilities for soccer, tennis and other sports. For those looking for something different there are plenty of other things to enjoy and visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the bike rental shops, walking paths, wetlands and the ecology center.

*Government press release (Jan 6)