The 106th National Sports Festival Concludes in Busan
Seven Days of Passionate Competition
150,000 Spectators Praise a “Moving Event”
Busan celebrated the finale of the National Sports Festival with a record-breaking performance, reclaiming second place overall for the first time in 52 years.
The 106th National Sports Festival, which captivated the nation for seven days, concluded with a closing ceremony held on the evening of October 23 at Busan Asiad Main Stadium.
This year’s event, held in Busan for the first time in 25 years, saw around 30,000 athletes competing in 50 sports across 82 venues, delivering a passionate race. During the festival, restaurants, accommodations, and tourist sites near the venues were bustling with visitors, and small business owners expressed their delight, saying, “If only every day were like this, we could thrive.”
With the vision of “A United Korea in Global Hub City Busan,” the festival fostered national unity. The opening and closing ceremonies, directed by Park Kalin, were lauded as the “best ever,” encapsulating the symbols and vitality of Busan. The torch relay, spanning 151 sections, featured more than 1,200 runners who carried the flame of hope and unity.
Civic participation was also remarkable. Over 4,000 volunteers contributed at various sites, including the opening and closing ceremonies, event guidance, and traffic management, while more than 16,000 citizens and student supporters energized the atmosphere with enthusiastic cheering.
Both inside and outside the venues, a variety of attractions and activities were offered. The promotional hall at Asiad Main Stadium hosted unique exhibitions and events, while cultural and artistic performances took place at Sajik Baseball Stadium, Haeundae Beach, and other locations. Additionally, the “Busan Local Food Zone (Chesulin and Chetrucks)” was set up to promote local food consumption, further invigorating the regional economy.
The Busan team, with over 2,000 athletes, won a total of 240 medals-66 gold, 57 silver, and 117 bronze-securing second place overall. This achievement marks the first time in 52 years since the 54th festival in 1973. Sepaktakraw claimed the overall championship for the eighth consecutive year, aerobics hip-hop for the fourth consecutive year, while table tennis won its first overall title in 39 years since 1986, and boxing captured its first-ever overall championship in the festival’s history, upholding the pride of the host city.
This year’s festival went beyond a mere sporting event, serving as an opportunity to showcase Busan’s history, culture, and future growth potential. It solidified Busan’s status as a global hub city both domestically and internationally, instilling pride in its citizens.
Busan Mayor Park Hyungjoon expressed his gratitude, saying, “I would like to thank the athletes, volunteers, Korean compatriots, and all citizens who helped prepare for the festival. This event allowed everyone to fully experience Busan’s charm and excitement, and it will be remembered as a grand celebration of unity in Korea, leaving a significant mark in the history of Korean sports.”
Mayor Park also emphasized, “Taking this opportunity, we will continue to develop Busan into an even more livable and attractive global hub city.”
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