Busan Port Authority to hold public forum on North Port landmark strategy

The Busan Port Authority (BPA) will hold the North Port Landmark Strategy Citizens Forum on Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the conference hall on the fifth floor of the Busan Port International Exhibition and Convention Center (BPEX). The forum marks the first time the BPA and its master architect committee will present to the public the direction they have jointly developed for the North Port redevelopment project.

The event will feature two expert presentation sessions, followed by an open discussion and a question-and-answer segment. The first session, titled "Busan Port North Port: Seven Principles for a Better City," will be presented by Woo Shin-gu, a Pusan National University professor and chair of the North Port Redevelopment Project's master architect committee.

The second session, titled "Creating a North Port Waterfront — Breaking Down the Boundary Between the Waterfront and the Water," will be delivered by Tak Young-sik, president of Yeonan Hangman Engineering Co. and an urban planning specialist in the port sector. Tak is expected to outline how the sea and waterfront spaces — the North Port's core assets — can best be utilized. An open discussion involving experts, civic groups and academics will follow the presentations.

The BPA introduced a master architect (MA) system in January, assembling a seven-member committee led by Professor Woo to help establish the identity and public character of the North Port redevelopment project. The committee has since been working with the BPA to review spatial planning and utilization strategies for the area.

Citizens wishing to attend may register in advance through Friday via the BPA's website (www.busanpa.com) or by scanning the QR code on the event poster. On-site registration will also be available on the day of the forum.

"We will ensure that the North Port redevelopment takes deep root in its identity and culture around its core value of a citizen-centered marine landmark," BPA President Song Sang-geun said. "We will continue to listen closely to the voices of citizens as North Port transforms into a marine landmark."