The First Steps of the Gapjin Year... Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun Attends Joint Fish Market Opening Ceremony

6:30 AM on the 2nd at Busan Cooperative Fish Market, Attendance by Chairman An Seong-min, Superintendent Ha Yun-su, Congressman An Byeong-gil, Pukyong National University President Jang Young-su

Mayor Park Hyung-jun: "2024 Will Be a New Beginning f

On January 1, Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun attended the citizen bell-ringing ceremony and New Year's worship, and as his third New Year's activity, he will attend the first auction ceremony at Busan Cooperative Fish Market (CEO Park Geuk-je) at 6:30 a.m. on January 2.

The first auction ceremony is an event to commemorate the first auction of the new year and to pray for the safety and a good catch of fishing vessels. It is scheduled to proceed in the order of a pungmul performance announcing the first auction of the Gapjin year, an opening speech, congratulatory remarks, a demonstration auction by attending guests, and a ritual praying for a bountiful catch.

Along with Mayor Park Hyung-jun, An Seong-min, Chairperson of the City Council, Ha Yun-su, Superintendent of Education, Ahn Byung-gil, Member of the National Assembly, Jang Young-su, President of Pukyong National University, and other heads of local fisheries-related organizations will attend to send messages of support to the Busan Cooperative Fish Market and the Busan fisheries industry.

In particular, Mayor Park will express his ambition at the first auction ceremony to elevate the status of the Busan Cooperative Fish Market to the highest level, from seafood safety to becoming a world-class tourist attraction, and that 2024 will be a new starting point to realize "Global Hub City, Busan in the World."

Mayor Park Hyung-jun stated, “We will steadily promote the modernization project of the Busan Cooperative Fish Market to rebirth it as a state-of-the-art auction market equipped with auction, experiential tourism, and automated logistics.” He added, “As the second phase of the Jagalchi Ajimae Market project will be completed this year, we will develop this area into a marine and fisheries complex space to become a world-class tourist attraction and make Busan a forward base for the fisheries industry.”

Mayor Park also said, “Last year, not only did Busan’s potential awaken and domestic and international evaluations soar vertically, but investment attraction exceeded 4 trillion won in just one year with the attraction of large corporations such as Samsung Heavy Industries and Lotte Shopping. This is ten times higher compared to three years ago.” He continued, “Despite the fiscal tightening policy, under the government’s will to support Busan as a growth hub in the southern region, 2024 marks the first time in history to open the era of 9 trillion won in national funds, which includes 41.4 billion won for the modernization project of the Busan Cooperative Fish Market. With these achievements and multiple possibilities working simultaneously, 2024 will be the first year to advance ‘Global Hub City Busan’ beyond Korea to the world,” expressing his determination for city administration in the new year of the Gapjin year.