Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo marks 100 days in office, vows to bid for G20 summit

[Financial News] As the ninth popularly elected Busan administration marks 100 days since its launch, Mayor Jeon Jae-soo has unveiled a plan to transform the structure of industry and the economy, moving beyond restoring livelihoods and focusing on “Busan, the Maritime Capital.”
At a press conference marking his 100th day in office on the 8th, Mayor Jeon said, “I will bid to host the 2028 G20 Summit to take Busan, the Maritime Capital, onto the world stage.” He plans to use it, alongside the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), as an opportunity to showcase Busan’s maritime capabilities to the world.
Incheon Metropolitan City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City and North Gyeongsang Province are among those currently vying to host the G20 Summit.
Mayor Jeon also proposed building a multi-use domed arena as a way to revitalize Busan North Port. After seeing at least 1 million people recently visit the port to see the shark “Bukangi,” he concluded that the area needs attractions that will keep drawing people, with a multi-use domed arena at the center of his plan. “People gather where there is a reason to visit, and when people gather, a place comes alive,” he said. “I will make Busan North Port a place people visit and stay all 365 days of the year.”
He will also work to ensure construction of Gadeok Island New Airport begins on schedule and expand global gateway infrastructure, including a hub port to serve the era of Arctic shipping routes and regional railways.
He also expressed his commitment to pursuing initiatives including new marine industries and Busan’s sweeping AI transformation, expanding tourism offerings, creating growth opportunities for the old downtown and western Busan, strengthening social safety nets and care, essential medical services and housing welfare, developing recreational sports infrastructure, and launching a Youth New Deal program to help young people work and grow. 
Looking back on his first 100 days in office, Mayor Jeon said the first feeling he experienced was “a heavy sense of responsibility.” He then pointed to examples of changes shaping Busan’s future: the successful trial operation of an Arctic shipping route, the selection of Busan North Port as the site for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ new headquarters, and the relocation to Busan of major shipping companies such as HMM and Heung-A Shipping.
Mayor Jeon emphasized, “We will pick up the pace on what we have done well and make up for what we have fallen short on,” adding, “I will make sure people feel the changes not as numbers in a report, but through jobs and income for residents, new opportunities for young people, and healthy, safe everyday lives.” 

[email protected] Kwon Byeong-seok Reporter