Yeongdo in Busan to Be Reborn as an Island of Tourism and Marine Business

Mayor Park Hyeongjun Unveils Policy Briefing for Yeongdo Centennial Revival Project

The city of Busan has unveiled a project to develop the entire Yeongdo district as a special tourist zone.

On March 19, Busan City (Mayor Park Hyeongjun) announced its vision for the future by holding a policy briefing for the "Yeongdo Centennial Revival Project" at Blue Port 2021 in Yeongdo-gu, where it revealed plans to transform all of Yeongdo into a special tourist district.

The briefing combined on-site visits to key project locations, such as the site of Busan Nam High School, with the policy announcement. The core objective is to revitalize Yeongdo—currently in decline due to industrial structure changes and population decrease—by fostering it as a global hub that combines marine new industries and tourism.

The city plans to build the "Yeongdo K-POP Arena," with approximately 20,000 seats, on the former Busan Nam High School site. This complex facility will host K-POP concerts, e-sports, and global conventions, and will be developed as a private investment project worth 500 billion won. The arena will serve as a key facility for expanding the foundation for stay-type tourism.

In the areas of Taejongdae and Gamji Beach, the city will establish the "Gamji International Tourism Complex." Centered around a marine healing center, the complex will introduce therapy programs utilizing seawater and sea breezes, and will also feature a seawater and hot spring pool, a "sea library," and marine-specialized spaces. At Taejongdae, a dome-shaped indoor garden themed around the five senses, called "Taejongdae Garden," will be created as a new tourism resource.

Transportation infrastructure will also be improved. In the eastern area, the Busan Port Line will connect Yeongdo to the city center, while in the western area, the introduction of a catenary-free tram system is under review. The plan is to build a circular transportation network throughout Yeongdo. In addition, a pedestrian bridge will be constructed to connect Kkangkkangi Village and Jagalchi Market, improving accessibility to the old downtown area.

The foundation for marine new industries will be further strengthened. In collaboration with Korea Maritime & Ocean University, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, and Korea Maritime Institute, the city will establish research and development hubs for smart marine mobility, polar big data, and AI-based technologies. To the east, a cluster for shipbuilding and defense MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) industries will be developed to attract related companies.

Mayor Park Hyeongjun stated, "Yeongdo is the starting point of Busan's industry," adding, "Through this project, we will foster Yeongdo as a future hub that combines tourism and industry."

Yeongdo, Busan.

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