The 19th Busan Port Festival, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the port's opening, will be held over two days starting on the 19th around the North Port area. A range of cultural and experiential programs spotlighting the history and future of Busan Port is set to offer residents and tourists a special maritime festival.
The Busan Port Festival is a flagship maritime cultural event held annually to promote the symbolism and historical significance of Busan Port. This year, in particular, the scale and content of the event have been expanded further to mark the 150th anniversary of the port's opening.
The centerpiece of the festival is "Port Lounge," a modern reinterpretation of the rest spaces actually used by sailors. It is composed of an experience zone where visitors can experience sailor culture and games, a performance zone featuring small-scale resident performances, and a food zone offering signature dishes from major trading ports around the world, showcasing the distinctive culture and atmosphere of the port.
Water leisure programs, including moon boats, UFO boats, pontoon boats, water bicycles, and kayaks, will operate along the waterway at North Port Waterfront Park. A unique program called "Photo Run," in which participants run against the backdrop of Busan Port and complete a milk foam beverage, will also be offered, providing a different kind of enjoyment.
A wide array of experiential programs is also prepared for family visitors, including a maritime mission tour, wish boat floating, the Busan Port lawn bookstore, a children's writing and drawing contest themed on love for the sea, and hands-on sessions for building model ships.
Programs offering direct experience of the port and ships also draw attention. Visitors can enjoy a Busan Port tour aboard the port guide vessel "E-Green" and the "Jagalchi Cruise," as well as a ship tour event hosted by the Busan Port Authority.
The opening ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. on the 19th at the North Port landmark site. Following celebratory performances by singer K.Will and rock band Nerd Connection, a Busan Port fireworks show — expanded in scale from last year — will light up the sky for 15 minutes, marking the start of the festival.
The city plans to operate promotional booths and run performance programs targeting cruise ship tourists arriving at Busan Port during the festival period, expanding participation by foreign tourists as well.
Advance reservations for experiential programs will be opened sequentially through Yes24 starting on the 1st. Details on the event schedule and how to participate can be found on the Busan Port Festival website.
Na Yoon-bin, head of the city's Tourism and MICE Bureau, said, "This festival is a special event where visitors can experience the past, present, and future of Busan Port together. We have prepared a variety of programs so that both residents and tourists can fully enjoy the charms of Busan Port."
