Broadcaster Tyler Rasch to speak at Busan Global City Forum; Guangzhou delegation joins World Smart City Expo

Detailed program for the 2026 Busan Global City Forum [Provided by Busan city government]
Detailed program for the 2026 Busan Global City Forum [Provided by Busan city government]

Busan Global City Week 2026, a three-day event aimed at expanding cooperation with Busan's sister and friendship cities and sharing urban policy and experience, opened Tuesday.

This year, marking the 150th anniversary of the opening of Busan Port, the city invited a delegation from Guangzhou, China, to attend the 2026 Busan Global City Forum and the 2026 World Smart City Expo (WSCE), and to visit key sites including Busan New Port.

The Busan city government and the Busan Global City Foundation held the 2026 Busan Global City Forum at Paradise Hotel Busan at 1 p.m. Tuesday under the slogan "From Port to Global Maritime Capital — Busan's 150 Years Connecting the World." Now in its fourth year, the forum was organized to share Busan's vision for growth — driven by the planned relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the establishment of the Busan Maritime International Commercial Court — and to expand networks among maritime cities.

Under the theme "Sea, Port, City: A New Future for Global Maritime Cities," the forum explored Busan's identity and strengths as a global maritime city, drawing on the sea and port as its core assets, and charted directions for future development.

At the opening ceremony, broadcaster Tyler Rasch, who has been active in international and environmental affairs, delivered a special lecture titled "The Arctic Route and Busan's Opportunity: What Should We Plan For?" Thematic sessions followed, covering "Maritime Cities and Brand" and "Oceans, Ports and ODA," with domestic and international experts discussing the competitiveness of global maritime cities and sustainable strategies for port city development.

The Guangzhou delegation is scheduled to visit the World Smart City Expo at Bexco on Wednesday to examine the latest technology and policy cases in smart city development, and to tour Busan New Port to observe the city's port infrastructure and smart, eco-friendly port operations. Busan city said it would deepen the delegation's understanding of the city's key policies and industrial sites and strengthen the foundation for mutual understanding and exchange between the two cities.

Na Yun-bin, the city's director general of tourism and MICE, said she hopes the event will serve as an opportunity for citizens, youth, domestic and international experts, and overseas cities to think together about Busan's future and create new possibilities for Busan as a globally connected maritime capital.


kaf2002@heraldcorp.com