The Busan Metropolitan Government is supporting local designers' global expansion while simultaneously raising international awareness of "2028 World Design Capital (WDC) Busan." The city aims to leverage overseas design exhibitions as a stage to promote Busan's city brand and broaden its connections with the global design community.
Busan City announced Wednesday that it is launching the "WDC Busan 2028 Promotion-Linked Overseas Design Exhibition Support Project" together with the Busan Design Center.
The project's core objective is to fund exhibition expenses for Busan-affiliated designers participating in overseas exhibitions, while having participants serve as private promotional ambassadors for "2028 World Design Capital Busan" at their venues.
The city plans to select 10 teams this year from designers, individuals or teams, who have either confirmed participation or expressed intent to participate in overseas design exhibitions. Selected designers will receive up to 5.5 million won, covering costs including artwork shipping, exhibition space rental, and installation and dismantling expenses.
The program focuses on lowering barriers to overseas expansion for local designers by covering shipping and venue rental costs, which are considered the heaviest burdens in participating in overseas exhibitions. Airfare and accommodation, however, are excluded from support.
Eligible applicants are designers with at least three design-related achievements within the past three years and verified ties to Busan. These include employees of design firms, design studio operators, design project executors, winners of Busan-themed competitions, and designers who originate from the city.
Selected participants must conduct promotional activities for "2028 World Design Capital Busan" throughout the overseas exhibition process. Before the exhibition, they must post related content on social networking services (SNS), and at the venue, they must introduce Busan and the World Design Capital vision to visitors and overseas design industry figures.
Participants must also produce content capturing global design trends and major case studies from the exhibition, and submit a results report after the exhibition concludes that includes analysis of design trends and their potential applicability to Busan.
The city expects the project to go beyond simple exhibition support, serving as an opportunity to organically spread Busan's design competitiveness and city brand at major global design events. The city also plans to strengthen the international foundation of the 2028 World Design Capital project by expanding its network with overseas designers, institutions, and industry players.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Applicants can submit their activity application form, portfolio, and proof of exhibition participation by email.
"This will support local designers in showcasing their capabilities on the global stage without financial burden, while also serving as an opportunity to introduce '2028 World Design Capital Busan' to the global design scene," said Moon Jung-ju, head of the city's Future Design Bureau.
