Jeon Jae-soo vows to make Sajik a sports hub, Bukhang the 'heart' of maritime capital

Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo pushed back Wednesday against concerns that the planned Bukhang dome arena would come at the expense of the Sajik Baseball Stadium reconstruction, insisting the two projects are not in competition. "We will develop Sajik into a lifestyle sports hub centered on baseball, and make Bukhang the new heart of Busan as a maritime capital," he said.

Jeon made the remarks Wednesday afternoon at a public forum on sports policy for the city's ninth directly elected administration, held at the Busan Sports Hall.

He drew a clear line on the nature of the Bukhang project, saying the dome arena there "is centered on being a venue for performances and sports — not a baseball-only stadium." Asked directly whether Sajik's baseball function would simply be relocated to Bukhang, he said flatly: "No."

Jeon also rejected characterizations that the reconstruction timeline had been delayed, saying the postponement was not administrative in nature. He said there remains sufficient time under the original plan, and that the city is using the interval to gather residents' opinions and develop more detailed measures.

Earlier, in a July business report submitted to a standing committee of the Busan City Council, the city said it would review adjusting the Sajik reconstruction schedule to align with the pace of the Bukhang dome project. People Power Party council members pushed back, warning that the plan to reopen the stadium in March 2031 was at risk.

Jeon cited the economic stakes for local merchants, noting that a single baseball game generates about 1 billion won ($744,000) in consumer spending, adding up to between 60 billion and nearly 100 billion won over a roughly 60-game season. "What happens to the merchants?" he asked, adding that he is working on a plan that allows both Sajik Baseball Stadium and the Bukhang dome arena to thrive.

He pledged not to leave merchants in the lurch during the reconstruction process. "I have no authority to ask the surrounding merchants to absorb losses," he said. "I will put together a thorough and detailed plan and make sure we find a way for merchants to prosper together."

Near the end of the forum, a merchant from near Sajik Baseball Stadium took the floor, saying that business transactions in the area had dried up and key money had disappeared since talk of the Bukhang stadium began. "Please make a decision quickly," the merchant urged.

Jeon had made a similar pledge the day before at a town hall meeting in the city's original downtown area on Tuesday, saying he would "soon announce a plan that works for both Sajik Baseball Stadium and the Bukhang dome arena — one that benefits all citizens."