The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is strengthening comprehensive policy cooperation with Busan City in the fields of culture, sports, and tourism.
On August 10, Minister Choi Hwi-young attended the opening ceremony of the '2026 Busan World Library and Information Conference (WLIC)' at BEXCO, where he met with Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo to discuss key issues of mutual interest.
During the event, Minister Choi and Mayor Jeon celebrated the opening and toured the exhibition hall to review the conference operations and displays from participating countries. The conference, hosted by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), runs until August 13 under the theme 'Libraries Leading Change,' attracting over 3,000 attendees from more than 120 countries.
In a subsequent luncheon meeting, Mayor Jeon outlined major cultural, sports, and tourism initiatives, including the construction of a multi-purpose dome stadium, and requested cooperation from the central government.
In response, Minister Choi introduced several Ministry policies that can be practically utilized at the local level, such as the 'Dream Art Troupe' aimed at expanding cultural and artistic education opportunities for children and youth, and the 'Cultural Day' initiative, which increases access to cultural experiences once a week. He urged Busan's active participation in these programs.
The Ministry and Busan City agreed to maintain a collaborative relationship that goes beyond individual projects, ensuring ongoing communication across all areas. The matters discussed will be further detailed at the operational level.
Minister Choi stated, 'Busan possesses unique assets, from maritime and port facilities to film and video production, making it a cultural hub in the southern region. We will spare no effort in supporting its role. As this conference demonstrates, when the central and local governments work together, the results are significant. The Ministry will be a strong partner in ensuring that Busan's envisioned policies lead to tangible outcomes.'
In line with Busan's cultural and tourism development, there has been a notable increase in foreign tourists. According to Busan City, 2.42 million foreign visitors came to the city from January to June this year, marking a 43.9% increase compared to the same period last year, which saw 1.68 million visitors. Notably, June recorded the highest monthly total this year, with 484,057 visitors. The largest groups of tourists came from Taiwan (477,606), China (468,876), Japan (291,141), and the United States (219,147).
The influx of tourists has also contributed to the revitalization of the local economy. According to an analysis of credit card big data by the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign tourist spending in Busan reached 591.4 billion won in the first half of the year, a 63% increase from 362.1 billion won during the same period last year, surpassing the national average growth rate of 55%.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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