Busan City, Creating a 15-Minute City ... Selection of Preliminary Candidate Sites for the 2nd Happy Challenge

'2nd Happy Challenge' Preliminary Candidate Sites, 4 Living Zones Selected

Strategic Planning from March, 2 Representative and 2 Pilot Living Zones Each

Busan City has selected four living zones as preliminary candidate sites for the second year of the ‘Happy Challenge’ project: Dong-gu (Jwacheon·Beomil), Buk-gu (Mandeok), Saha-gu (Sinpyeong·Jangnim), and Sasang-gu (Gwaebeop·Gamjeon).

Busan City Hall.

The ‘Happy Challenge’ project is Mayor Park Hyung-jun’s flagship pledge aimed at creating pedestrian-centered convenience facilities and spaces for citizen interaction and communication, realizing the universal values and philosophy of the 15-minute city, while establishing a uniquely Busan-style 15-minute city through various community recovery and revitalization projects.

Last year, the city selected ‘Busanjin-gu Dangam-Gaegum area’ as the representative living zone and secured a main budget of 15 billion KRW this year to promote various policy tasks step-by-step, focusing on themes such as streets, parks, and spaces.

The pilot project living zones, ‘Yeongdo-gu Sinseonnam Port area’ and ‘Suyeong-gu Mangmi-Suyeong area,’ are working with local communities to build public-private partnership models and create new models of autonomous regional management.

To select the preliminary candidate sites for this year’s Happy Challenge, in November last year, the city announced the implementation of the ‘2nd Happy Challenge’ project targeting a total of four living zones?two representative living zones and two pilot project living zones?in 16 autonomous districts and counties. After a pre-briefing session, applications were accepted until January this year, with 13 living zones applying, excluding Busanjin-gu, Yeongdo-gu, and Haeundae-gu.

Subsequently, internal evaluations were conducted on the submitted applications based on 13 indicators across three categories: ▲degree of volunteer activation ▲status of public facility installation and operation ▲status of available idle land ▲degree of community activation ▲establishment of related institution networks and collaboration systems ▲local government’s willingness to promote the project ▲necessary projects by living zone. As a result, four living zones were selected as preliminary candidates: ▲Dong-gu Jwacheon·Beomil living zone (Jwacheon, Beomil 1, Sujeong 1·2·4·5, Choryang 1·2·6) ▲Buk-gu Mandeok living zone (Mandeok 1·2·3) ▲Saha-gu Sinpyeong·Jangnim living zone (Sinpyeong 1·2, Jangnim 1·2) ▲Sasang-gu Gwaebeop·Gamjeon living zone (Gwaebeop-dong, Gamjeon-dong).

While the first phase target areas were primarily residential, the second phase preliminary candidate sites are notable for diversifying the target living zones by focusing on balanced development within the district, including not only residential-centered (Buk-gu) but also mixed residential and commercial (Dong-gu), and mixed residential and industrial (Saha-gu, Sasang-gu) areas.

For the preliminary candidate sites selected this time, starting from March, the city plans to establish strategic plans together with autonomous districts, local resident councils, and pre-selected consulting firms. By August, after on-site inspections by the ‘15-minute City Advisory Committee’ and final evaluations, two representative living zones (each with a budget of 30 billion KRW) and two pilot project zones (5 billion KRW each) will be finalized.

Kim Kwang-hoe, Director of Urban Balanced Development Office of Busan City, stated, “If the first Happy Challenge project target areas were symbolic living zones centered on neighborhood residences, the second preliminary candidate sites have expanded the spectrum of the 15-minute city by focusing on balanced development within districts and representing spaces of Korea’s industrialization. The true value of the 15-minute city shines brightest when all citizens participate and create it together, so we ask for the continuous interest and active participation of all citizens.”