Busan City Council hosts university mock assembly competition

The Busan City Council announced Monday that it held the 2026 Busan City Council University Mock Assembly Competition on Friday at the council's second-floor main conference room. The event was hosted by the council and organized by the 21st Century Political Science Association.

Now in its 23rd year, the competition drew 90 students from seven universities in the Busan area. Each school selected a regional issue as its agenda and conducted proceedings in the format of a standing committee hearing.

During the preparation process, city council members served as mentors for each school, communicating with students on regional issues and discussing policy proposals — giving participants a hands-on experience of legislative activity.

The agenda topics by school were: a project to address unsold housing units and revitalize the sluggish construction and housing market in Busan (Pukyong National University); the current state of Busan's cultural content industry and a sustainable plan for its development (Silla University); fostering and support for a tri-port system to establish Busan as a global logistics hub (Dong-A University); a plan to activate Sasang Smart City and support industrial transition (Pusan National University); strengthening the effectiveness of Busan's women's safety policy and building a victim-centered support system (Dongseo University); relocating Sajik Baseball Stadium to the North Port area and rebuilding the existing stadium (Dong-eui University); and a policy report on pursuing an ordinance to support the settlement of young talent in Busan (Busan University of Foreign Studies).

In the group category, Silla University took the grand prize (Speaker's Award) and Dongseo University won the excellence award. Superior awards went to Pusan National University, Pukyong National University, Dong-A University, Busan University of Foreign Studies and Dong-eui University. In the individual category (Political Science Association President's Award), 22 students received prizes, including Baek Jong-hyeon of Silla University, who won the grand prize.

Council Speaker Kang Mu-gil said the competition was intended "to raise youth interest in local self-governance and encourage open debate," adding that the council would "work harder to make Busan a solid city where young people can pursue their dreams."