Busan Internationalization ... Need for Corporate Attraction and Foreign Investment

As a result of a survey on the level of internationalization in Busan targeting Busan citizens, the logistics infrastructure sector scored high, while the economic-related sector scored low.

Current Level of Internationalization in Various Fields of Busan as Perceived by Busan Citizens (Unit: Points, Scale: 10 Points)

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The Global Area Studies Specialized Human Resources Education and Research Group for the Internationalization of Busan as a Gateway City (Director Noh Yong-seok) and the Global Area Studies Institute (Director Park Sang-hyun) at Pukyong National University conducted a "Busan Citizens' Perception Survey on Internationalization to Establish a Busan Global Index Model" targeting 1,000 Busan citizens last January and announced the results on the 19th.

The survey results showed that in the questionnaire on the current level of Busan's internationalization (out of 10 points), the logistics infrastructure sector received the highest score (6.9 points), but in economic-related areas such as the possession of companies with many overseas subsidiaries or branches (6.1 points) and foreign direct investment and active business activities (6.3 points), it was found that people perceive Busan's level of internationalization as low.

In the survey on the level of internationalization of 13 major cities worldwide, New York scored the highest with 8 points, followed by Singapore with 7.6 points, and Tokyo with 7.2 points. Domestically, Seoul scored 7.3 points, Incheon 6.7 points, and Busan 6.3 points, with Busan being the lowest.

The level of internationalization of major world cities as perceived by Busan citizens (unit: points, based on a 10-point scale).

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Regarding the requirements for Busan to become a global city, citizens rated civic awareness and logistics/exchange infrastructure highly, while the increase in resident foreigners was rated the lowest.

In response to the question about the purpose for which foreigners want to visit Busan, tourism/events (41.1%) and investment/business (29.3%) scored high, while employment/labor (9.6%), education/research (8.2%), medical/tourism (6.4%), and immigration/settlement (5.4%) scored relatively low.

Additionally, 84.5% of Busan citizens responded that despite the failure to host the 2030 Expo, efforts should be made to attract international events to become a global city.

In responses to questions about relationships with foreigners by region, Busan citizens showed positive attitudes toward Americans and Europeans, but negative attitudes toward Chinese.

The questions asked about whether foreigners could be "marriage partners," "friends," "neighbors," "colleagues," or "conversational partners."

This survey was conducted to secure research data on Busan citizens' experiences and acceptance of exchanges with foreigners, the level and necessity of Busan's internationalization, efforts for Busan's internationalization, and strategies for Busan's internationalization.

The Global Area Studies BK Education and Research Group, which organized the survey, has been conducting a four-phase BK project since September 2020 under the theme "Gateway City Busan and Multi-Regional Convergence Area Studies" with the agenda of "Internationalization of Gateway City Busan," and plans to conduct this survey annually.

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