Busan is accelerating its efforts to establish a new city brand as a 'Coffee City,' moving beyond its identity as a port city.
The initiative aims to leverage the historical record of coffee consumption by Joseon people in Busan from 1884, connecting the local specialty coffee culture with tourism and industry to create a unique coffee ecosystem in the city.
The city of Busan and Busan Technopark will host a citizen-participation coffee culture event, '2026 Busan Coffee Day,' on September 12 at Millak Market in Suyeong District.
This year's event will feature eight local roasteries from Busan, three from Seoul, and one from overseas. Attendees can enjoy various coffee tastings and sales, hand-drip coffee, coffee cocktails, roasting experiences, aroma exploration programs, DJ performances, and wellness running, all integrating coffee into culture and lifestyle.
Busan's push to promote itself as a 'Coffee City' is backed by a unique historical record. The 'Haeun Ilrok' documents that in 1884, Min Geon-ho, who worked at the Busan Customs Office, was served 'Gabi Tea' (甲斐茶). This record predates the more widely known account of King Gojong drinking coffee during the 1896 Gwangmu Restoration by 12 years.
Busan Technopark views this as one of the earliest documented instances of Joseon people drinking coffee in Busan and is using it as a historical narrative for 'Coffee City Busan.'
Lee Chae-yoon, head of the Life Center at Busan Technopark, explained, "This story began as we verified records like the 'Haeun Ilrok' with related experts. It signifies that there is a record of Joseon people drinking coffee in Busan."
Busan Technopark is leveraging 'Coffee Day' to expand the city's coffee culture into industry and tourism. In recent years, it has supported coffee-related businesses, research and development, and international seminars, working to develop coffee as a regional industry. According to Busan Technopark, the scale of related projects secured in Busan over the past few years has reached approximately 20 billion won.
The organization is also promoting research and development initiatives, including a coffee bean tracking system. The goal is to create an industrial ecosystem that connects coffee culture with manufacturing, technology, and tourism.
Another advantage for Busan is its port. The city has favorable logistics conditions as coffee beans from abroad pass through Busan Port. However, there is a distinction between simply passing through and creating added value locally. For the coffee industry to expand, companies involved in coffee manufacturing, processing, roasting, and distribution need to establish themselves in Busan.
Lee stated, "It would be ideal for major production or roasting companies to set up in Busan to create an industrial base, but it is not easy to create sufficient incentives for companies to relocate here. Currently, we are in the early stages of building that industrial foundation."
Busan Technopark is particularly focused on specialty coffee. The city is home to baristas and roasters who have gained recognition in national and international coffee competitions, and local coffee brands with national recognition are also growing.
Busan Technopark believes that connecting this vibrant coffee culture with the city brand can differentiate it from other coffee cities like Gangneung or Jeju. The ultimate goal is to seamlessly integrate 'coffee' into the travel itineraries of tourists visiting Busan.
Lee envisions, "Just as people seek out Seongshim-dang when visiting Daejeon, I hope that when tourists come to Busan, they will enjoy a delicious cup of coffee and take home some local beans or coffee products. Creating an awareness that visitors must have a cup of coffee when they come to Busan is significant in itself."
Busan's vision for a coffee city leans more towards being a 'city of consumption, culture, and tourism' rather than a production hub. Similar to how cities like New York and London have become global coffee cities through unique café cultures and consumer experiences, Busan aims to build its city image by combining its port, tourism, and specialty coffee culture.
The upcoming 'Busan Coffee Day' is part of this ongoing effort. It remains to be seen whether the coffee recorded in Busan 142 years ago can evolve into a new city brand that connects local roasteries with tourism and cultural content.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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