Busan Port Festival marks 150th anniversary of port's opening

The 19th Busan Port Festival will be held over two days, June 19-20, at the North Port waterfront park, the landmark site and the surrounding area of the Busan Port Authority headquarters. The opening ceremony is set for 7 p.m. June 19 at the North Port landmark site.

Co-hosted by the Busan city government, the Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries and the Busan Port Authority, the festival celebrates the historical significance and symbolism of Busan Port. This year's edition marks the 150th anniversary of the port's opening, with a range of cultural and hands-on programs on offer.

A centerpiece of the festival is "Port Lounge," a modern reimagining of the rest, dining and entertainment spaces once enjoyed by sailors. The zone is divided into three areas: an interactive "Experience Zone" featuring games and cultural activities drawn from seafaring life; a "Performance Zone" with regular shows on a small stage inside the Port Lounge; and a "Food Zone" with food trucks serving signature dishes from eight of the world's major trading ports.

On the waterway inside the North Port waterfront park, visitors can try "Water Leisure Activities" — including moon boats, UFO boats, pontoon boats, water bicycles and kayaks — as well as "Photo Run," an unconventional running event set against the backdrop of Busan Port where participants make milk foam along the route.

The North Port waterfront park and landmark site will also host a range of family-friendly programs: a maritime mission tour, a wish-boat floating event, a Busan Port lawn bookstore, a children's writing and drawing competition on the theme of loving the sea, and a model shipbuilding workshop.

Near the Busan Port Authority headquarters, visitors can experience the port and its vessels up close. Programs include the "Busan Port Tour," offering rides aboard the harbor guidance vessel Egreen and the Jagalchi Cruise, as well as a "Busan Port Vessel Open Experience" organized by the Busan Port Authority.

Advance reservations for hands-on programs open Monday through YES24 (https://ticket.yes24.com) on a rolling basis. More information is available on the festival's official website at https://festivalbusan.com/busanport.