Busan – you don’t want to miss this

With a focus on sustainability and a thriving food scene, Busan delivers an accessible, culturally rich, and unforgettable event destination.

The city is Korea’s largest port, with countless boats and vessels plying their daily trade in the harbour and surrounding waters. However, the waters also play host to a much older group of professionals, the haenyeo. Literally translated as “sea woman”, haenyeo are fisherwomen that have trained to dive up to 20 metres deep with no diving equipment. With the techniques passed down from mother to daughter for generations, it’s a real link to the past – and at Busan Yeongdo Haenyeo Culture Exhibition Hall & Restaurant you can learn more about the haenyeo tradition, before enjoying their daily catch in the restaurant.

This blending of modern and ancient is seen all over the city. The large temple complex of Haedong Yonggungsa dates back to the 14th century, yet its proximity to Haeundae Beach and the east side of Busan has made it extremely popular with tourists, particularly during the Buddha’s birthday celebrations.

Bleisure hub

Busan’s meetings and events sector centres on HAEVENUE, the Haeundae International Conference Complex. The name HAEVENUE is a blend of Haeundae and Avenue, reflecting the large range of business and leisure activities that take place in the area. Spanning approximately 2.39 million sqm, HAEVENUE’s range of facilities and attractions include international conference venues, luxury accommodation, large-scale exhibition centres, and high-end shopping, entertainment, and dining options.

Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) offers 215,000 sqm of event space, including two exhibition centres, a 4,000 seater auditorium and a convention hall with a 2,000 sqm grand ballroom. Large scale conferences, exhibitions, banquets, and events are all catered for, while its hybrid and virtual offer includes a virtual studio and video meeting rooms.

Recent events held at BEXCO range from last year’s World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals to the Busan World Disability Conference 2023 and the 25th International Diabetes Federation Congress.

Aiming to provide planners with the opportunity to create experiences that are “uniquely Busan”, in 2024 the city’s convention bureau designated a selection of Busan Unique Venues, which stand out for their ability to provide exclusive, one-of-a-kind experiences that can only be found in Busan.

Cultural scene

Venues highlighted by the CVB include Domoheon, the former official residence of Busan's mayor, which has been transformed into a multifunctional cultural space, offering a blend of historical architecture and modern facilities for various events, and Busan Modern History Museum, housed in the former Bank of Korea building, which provides insights into Busan's past and offers spaces for cultural and corporate events.

Music Complex Busan is a haven for vinyl enthusiasts; the venue allows visitors to play LPs on turntables and features an intimate concert space on the second floor. Gonggan 523 is a modern cultural complex that hosts a variety of events, exhibitions, and gatherings, reflecting Busan's contemporary cultural scene.

On a national scale, two Busan venues were selected for KTO’s Korea Unique Venue list in 2024. Busan X the Sky is an observation deck offering 360 degree views of downtown Busan and Haeundae Beach. Located in Haeundae LCT Landmark Tower, the second tallest building in Korea at 411.6m, its stunning city and ocean panoramas add the wow factor to any event in the city .

P.ark is a cultural complex that can accommodate a wide range of events, everything from small-scale music performances to large-scale events such as brand pop-ups, exhibitions, and concerts. The venue reflects Busan's commitment to preserving its historical essence while embracing modernity, offering diverse options for both locals and visitors seeking unique experiences.

Located on the camellia-flecked Dongbaekseom Island, Nurimaru APEC House was the venue for the 2005 APEC Summit and is a three-storey contemporary recreation of a traditional Korean pavilion.. The summit hosted 21 leaders from APEC economies and attracted approximately 10,000 participants. Since then, the venue has been used as a conference centre whose interior design features visual representations of traditional Korean culture, while the terrace provides a great view of the Oryukdo Islets, Gwangandaegyo Bridge, and Dalmaji Hill.

Big events

Recent big events in Busan include the FIATA World Congress 2022, the first hybrid event by FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association) which saw 2,600 attendees from 60 countries, while Singapore Herbalife Reward 2024 welcomed 3,000 participants.

Looking ahead, the city is set to host 3,500 participants from 70 countries for the 23rd IFAC World Congress in 2026, while the 66th ISI World Statistics Congress is expected to attract between 3,000 and 3,500 participants from 111 countries in 2027.

Busan has carved out a reputation as a hub for international festivals. Held annually in October, Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is one of the most prestigious film festivals in Asia, showcasing Asian and global cinema, and attracting filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals from around the world to the Busan Cinema Center, a Korea Unique Venue.

Busan One Asia Festival (BOF), a major K-pop and Hallyu festival held annually in October features K-pop concerts, fan meetings, and cultural events.

Busan CVB Offers comprehensive support for all types of events. Tailored support programmes for corporate meetings and incentives are available based on the event scale and regional economic impact, offering a range of services for promoting and hosting corporate meetings and incentive events.

Korea MICE Bureau also offers assistance for corporate planners, with support available for preliminary visits, visiting participants, groups, and incentives among others.