Haeundae, Gyeongju selected as 'Global Tourism Special Zones' with 6 billion won investment over two years

Busan's Haeundae district and the historic city of Gyeongju have been selected as "Global Tourism Special Zones" by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. This designation is part of the current administration's national agenda to cultivate world-class tourism destinations and combat regional decline.

The initiative aims to boost local economies by designating attractive areas and offering regulatory easing and financial support. Haeundae, already a designated tourism zone since 1994, will focus on developing an integrated brand, enhancing tourism programs along Dalmaji Road, and organizing night festivals. Other projects include creating day-trip tourism experiences, offering accommodation discounts, and establishing 24-hour multilingual tourist information centers.

Gyeongju, known for its rich historical heritage, also joins Haeundae in this designation. The selection process involved recommendations from non-metropolitan cities, with the ministry choosing two zones based on their potential for future integration and regional self-reliance.

Over the next two years, Haeundae will receive 3 billion won in national funding, supplemented by 900 million won from Busan city and 2.1 billion won from the Haeundae district, totaling 6 billion won for 11 specific projects. These funds will also support the implementation of intelligent CCTV systems and multilingual QR code guidance systems.