[Manbo Jeongdam] Park Hyung-jun, Mayor of Busan, "Busan Expo, Hopeful Signs Are Emerging"

"D-50, From Now On, We Will Do Our Best for a New Start"
"The Hosting Process as an Opportunity to Leap into a Global Hub Nation"
"Frustrated by the Political Sphere, the General Election Will Be a Turning Point"

“The countdown has begun.” These days, the days of Park Hyung-joon, Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City, are measured in seconds. This is because the fateful day when the decision on whether to host the 2030 Busan World Expo (Busan Expo) will be made, November 28, is just 50 days away.

On the morning of the 6th at 10:30 a.m., Mayor Park met with the press after already completing three or four schedules. Even after the interview with this publication, interviews and filming were lined up one after another. Mayor Park said, “I am extremely busy. I’m not just saying it; it’s really like that. I’m dividing my time by the minute from morning till night.” He added, “From November, I plan to stay in Paris to make the final efforts to attract the Busan Expo, so the schedule in October is even tighter.”

Recently, especially, many VIPs related to the Busan Expo have been visiting Busan. These include Phan Van Mai, Mayor of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Georg Wilfried Schmidt, German Ambassador to Korea; and Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB). Mayor Park said, “I am meeting all the VIPs who come from overseas. I am appealing for their support in attracting the Busan Expo.”

Of course, it is not easy to find time for health management. Whenever there is a little free time, he walks, and on weekends, he invests time in exercise to maintain his health. He said, “What is better for health than walking? I try to walk a little whenever I have time on weekdays, but it’s not easy because there is so much work. On weekends, I maintain my health through tennis, which I have been playing for a long time.”

Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun is taking time out of his busy official duties to walk in the garden inside the government building. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Let’s start by talking about the Expo. There are 50 days left until the host city is decided. How do you see the current situation?

(The competition with Saudi Arabia) is very tight. These things have to be opened up until the very end. We can only do our best and then wait for the decision from above. The outcome will be decided within these 50 days. So from now until November 28 is the most important time. This is a new beginning.

We started late, so at first, we had no choice but to fall behind Saudi Arabia. However, as a result of the united efforts of the government, Busan city, and companies, we have caught up a lot. Especially at this year’s UN General Assembly, President Yoon Suk-yeol met with leaders of 47 countries and worked so hard that he even bled from his nose, resulting in quite hopeful signs. Based on that strength, we plan to do our best over the remaining 50 days, mainly in Paris. In the process of trying to attract the Expo, South Korea has discovered many new things.

Discovered new things? What do you mean?

The Expo is different from attracting a sports mega-event. It is an economic Olympics and an industrial Olympics. The bidding process has become an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in terms of economic and industrial relations with each country and how to solve pressing issues. Companies initially treated it as someone else’s business, but after actually engaging, they have started to look again at markets that were relatively less developed, such as Africa and Latin America, and it has had the effect of opening new development markets, so they are working very hard.

Also, our country’s diplomatic missions have been in 120 countries worldwide. But through the Expo bidding, South Korea has had the opportunity to leap forward as a global hub country. Being a global hub country is not just because we are good; it is important to make each country recognize us as a grateful and helpful country based on close cooperation. This time, we created such an opportunity. Therefore, during the bidding process, the government decided to increase overseas diplomatic missions by 50. Our overseas missions will increase from 120 to 170 countries. This not only expands the diplomatic network but also strengthens South Korea’s position as a major trading nation, laying the foundation to become a global hub country.

Are you confident that we will succeed in hosting the Expo?

We are moving with that confidence. In November, I plan to stay almost permanently in Paris, France, and do my best.

Mayor Park became the Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City in April 2021. Previously a professor at Dong-A University, he entered politics in 2004 and served as a member of the National Assembly, presidential chief of staff for political affairs, and secretary-general of the National Assembly. He appeared on various broadcasts, logically presenting arguments and was active as a representative commentator of “rational conservatism.” Being a metropolitan city mayor is a new challenge for him.

Mayor Park analyzed the Expo bid as being in a "tense state." Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

It has been two years and six months since you took office. Looking back on yourself, what do you think?

The most important thing is that the atmosphere in Busan has changed a lot. Previously, there was a somewhat pessimistic perception, but recently it has shifted to a positive perception that Busan can also take a new leap forward. Citizens have also started to think that way, and various results that give such hope are emerging.

For example, what kind of results?

Investment attraction has increased nearly 20 times compared to before I took office. This year, it seems it will exceed 8 trillion won. Various city evaluation indices by global institutions have also risen significantly. The smart city index rose from 65th to 19th, and The Economist’s livability ranking in Asia rose from 13th to 6th. The Corporate Reputation Research Institute conducts monthly brand index surveys including all special and metropolitan cities in South Korea, and since last summer until now, Busan has continuously ranked first.

Any regrets?

The biggest regret is the concentration in the metropolitan area and unipolarism are so severe that talent is concentrated around Seoul. We are trying to reverse this, but the structural forces are so strong that it will take time to correct. Busan was the first in the country to implement the Ji-San-Hak (local industry-university cooperation). This was reflected in the Ministry of Education’s RISE policy, aligning the Ministry of Education’s policy with Busan’s policy, and Busan became a pilot region. If universities do not thrive, the city cannot thrive. It is important that it is good for children’s education and that talent needed by companies is well nurtured. For that, university innovation is necessary, so we emphasized Ji-San-Hak cooperation. Fortunately, it has been effective, and Busan National University’s brand has risen significantly this year. Its evaluation has improved.

You ranked first in job approval rating among special and metropolitan city mayors in the Realmeter survey announced on the 14th of last month. What do you think is the reason?

I think it is the citizens’ evaluation of the positive changes in Busan over the past two years. Since taking office, I have pursued two visions for city administration: to make Busan a global hub city and to make Busan a city where people want to live again even if they are born again. These are about quality of life and citizen happiness. These two are the biggest visions.

They are closely connected, and we are continuously discovering and spreading policies that can be felt in real life. For example, the “15-minute city” plan to quickly connect east and west Busan to create a 15-minute living zone, the integrated discount system implemented first in the country, the children’s complex cultural center created on the first floor of City Hall, and efforts to make Busan a nationwide city for recreational sports.

You created a children’s complex cultural center in City Hall? What is that?

Other cities and provinces do not have this. It is not just a library but offers various digital education and experiences, including native English education. It also provides a space where children’s parents can communicate. It started as a pilot in September last year, and already more than 200,000 people have used it. The atmosphere on the first floor has completely changed, and City Hall has become a place where children’s laughter can be heard. This is unprecedented in existing administrative institutions. We plan to create about 300 of these throughout Busan. Several dozen have already been made. It is a kind of local community facility, and through it, I believe creating a city where residents build good relationships with each other is the most important shortcut to creating a happy city.

What is the status of the Industrial Bank of Korea’s relocation to Busan?

There is a misunderstanding in the metropolitan area. Busan has the world’s second-largest port logistics function. It ranks seventh in the world in container volume. It is already a global hub logistics city, and there are many manufacturing bases in Ulsan and Gyeongnam. The Industrial Bank’s main customers are all here.

The Industrial Bank is a policy financial institution, so it is desirable for it to function in a way that best contributes to South Korea’s industrial and economic development. If the Industrial Bank is in the metropolitan area, it is just one of many banks. But if it comes to Busan, it can play a decisive role in Busan and the entire southern region. So this is fundamentally different from the past concept of decentralizing innovation cities.

I don’t understand why the Democratic Party opposes this. Isn’t the Democratic Party the party that inherits the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun, who emphasized local decentralization? The reason for the innovation cities was to activate the local industrial ecosystem by relocating public institutions, but even though they relocated, few places are properly fulfilling that role. The Industrial Bank is truly different from that. The relocation of the Industrial Bank best realizes the idea that former President Roh had when he conceived innovation cities.

Can it be realized before the general election?

Only one legal clause needs to be changed. For example, changing “located in Seoul” to “located in a financial hub” would open the way. There should be no division between ruling and opposition parties when it comes to doing things that can substantially help balanced development, not just talk.

Mayor Park said, "Busan needs high-end content." Photo by Yongjun Cho jun21@

Japan has started the second discharge of contaminated water. Are you concerned?

We have been thoroughly prepared. We have been conducting inspections at radiation levels about 10 times stricter than international standards and have increased the areas inspected. We also inspect seafood daily. This was done before the first discharge and has been strengthened after the discharge. Citizens can check the results through an app, and electronic display boards have been installed in many places. There is practically little damage. It is not a major concern going forward.

Although it is not only Busan’s problem, the population decline is serious. How is Busan coping with this?

Population decline outside the metropolitan area has two aspects: low birthrate and population outflow. To slow the population decline, increasing the birthrate is important, but for Busan, preventing youth outflow is the top priority. Fortunately, while about 20,000 young people left Busan annually, this year it has decreased to about 5,000 to 6,000. The goal is to almost freeze this outflow within two to three years.

Next, we will create conditions and environments that attract young people to Busan. A time will soon come when they will make rational choices. Preparing and creating that is important. At the government level, continuing to strengthen metropolitan unipolarism will not overcome the low birthrate problem.

What kind of future do you dream of for Busan?

Busan already has the conditions to be a good place to live and a city where people want to live again if born again. It is a large city by the beautiful sea, and the sea is not far away on the outskirts but completely surrounds the city center. Such a large city with the sea and full urban facilities and infrastructure is rare worldwide.

Seoul is a beautiful city, but it cannot compete with Busan’s beauty by the sea. Busan has good living conditions and clean air. Among special and metropolitan cities, Busan ranks first in the lowest fine dust concentration.

We plan to make it an international gateway city where people, companies, and money gather. To that end, we are working strategically to develop environment, education, culture, and tourism. According to a recent survey by the Korea Tourism Organization, the highest-rated aspect by visitors to Busan was that it is “a city where you can feel the warmth of the people.” That is important. We are striving to create a city with good relationships, where people are warm and fun, and where living is comfortable and happy.

There have been criticisms that changes are needed regarding the international tourism city development project.

Busan needs high-end content. Therefore, we are attempting to build an opera house, an international art center, and attract world-class art museums. We are also working to create cultural and tourist attractions throughout the city. We are informing foreign tourists that there is Busan as well as Seoul.

You made a name as a political commentator. How do you see the current situation in the ruling and opposition parties?

It is frustrating. Next year’s general election will be a very important turning point. Although it is frustrating in many ways, it is difficult to pay attention to politics until the Expo hosting decision is made. I don’t think it should be either... It’s better not to talk about politics.