What Makes Regional Public Exhibition Halls So Appealing?... National Busan Science Museum Marks 10th Anniversary with 8 Million Visitors

"Established as a Hub for Science Culture in the Southeast Region"

The number of visitors to public science exhibition halls located outside major cities is setting rare records. Despite the severe impact of COVID-19, which forced exhibition spaces to rely on group gatherings for survival, these venues have managed to attract nearly one million visitors annually, showcasing their strong appeal.

The National Busan Science Museum celebrated its 10th anniversary on December 11. The museum announced, "Over the past 10 years, we have welcomed more than 8 million cumulative visitors." Established as a hub for science culture in the southeastern region, the museum was built with the support of 1.14 million citizens' signatures and has played a central role in spreading scientific culture.

The museum has consistently presented special exhibitions introducing cutting-edge science and technology, future-oriented educational programs, and a variety of science culture events. For 10 consecutive years since its opening, it has been recognized as an excellent or outstanding institution in the Ministry of Science and ICT’s public institution management performance evaluations. The museum has also received the Education Mecenat Award seven times and has been named an excellent institution for customer satisfaction for five consecutive years, among other achievements.

Song Samjong, Director of the National Busan Science Museum, is delivering the opening remarks at the international symposium on the 11th.

This year, in celebration of its 10th anniversary, the museum accelerated facility improvements. The Saessak Nuri Hall was remodeled with a space exploration theme, a new parking tower was constructed, the permanent exhibition hall’s automobile zone was upgraded, the outdoor exhibition area was renovated, and the planetarium underwent a digital transformation, significantly enhancing the visitor experience.

On this day, the museum held an international symposium to commemorate its 10th anniversary, attended by about 120 representatives from regional science museums and related organizations. Participants discussed the vision and sustainable development directions for the next decade. The Southeast Science Museum Council, the 10th anniversary ceremony, and the international symposium were held in conjunction, strengthening the regional network and expanding the foundation for international cooperation.

At the Southeast Science Museum Council, 22 science museums from Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam gathered to share each institution’s achievements for the year and business plans for the following year. The 4th Southeast Science Culture Awards were also presented. The Geochang Wolseong Space Creativity Science Museum received the group award, Park Kyungyoung, an educational researcher at the Busan Science Experience Center, received the individual award, and the Gimhae Observatory was recognized in the achievement category. The winners were awarded the council president’s prize and a cash prize of 3 million won.

The National Busan Science Museum, celebrating its 10th anniversary, is holding an international symposium on the 11th.

During the 10th anniversary ceremony, individuals who contributed to the spread of science culture were honored with commendations from the Minister, the Mayor of Busan, and the President of the Korea Science Museum Association. The National Busan Science Museum Supporters’ Association awarded scholarships to aspiring young scientists.

In the first part of the symposium, Maria Isabel Garcia, Director of the Mind Museum in the Philippines, and Hiroshi Tsuda, Director of Strategy at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Japan, participated to introduce the role of science museums and global best practices in an era of uncertainty.

The second part featured a presentation on the overseas expansion of the National Gwacheon Science Museum and shared the achievements and dissemination strategies of the K-Science Museum-type ODA projects led by the National Busan Science Museum in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

With the international symposium as a starting point, the National Busan Science Museum is preparing for the next decade. Under the vision of "An Infinite World of Imagination, a Science Museum that Turns the Future into Reality," the museum plans to strengthen its role as a regional science culture hub and further expand global cooperation.

Director Song Samjong expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am deeply thankful for the support from the local community over the past 10 years," and emphasized, "We will continue to advance both international and regional cooperation so that the museum can grow even further as a science culture platform connecting the region and industry."

On the 11th, the Southeast Science Museum Council is taking place at the National Busan Science Museum.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.