Food
Busan, Korea outlined ‘Gastronomy Policy 2.0’ at public talk concert
haps Magazine Korea
April 1, 2026
Millak The Market (Photo by Sammi Construction Co. Ltd./courtesy of haps Magazine Korea)
The city of Busan held a public “food talk concert” on April 1 at Millak The Market, where Mayor Park Heong-joon shared the city’s direction for its next phase of gastronomy tourism policy.
The event, titled “Busan, Asking About the Diversity of Taste,” brought together around 200 participants, including industry professionals, students, and local residents.
It was structured around presentations on Korea’s evolving food tourism landscape, followed by the announcement of Busan’s 2026 policy roadmap and an open discussion session with attendees.
City officials presented a vision of Busan as a “global gastronomy tourism city” shaped by both residents and visitors. The event was designed as a communication platform, with feedback from participants expected to inform future policy development.
Busan’s growing focus on food tourism has been supported by recent data. The city recorded 3.64 million international visitors in 2025, a roughly 24% increase year-on-year. Surveys have consistently shown that food experiences rank as the top reason for visiting Busan, while local research has indicated that restaurants featured in global guides have seen noticeable increases in sales and foreign customer visits.
Based on this trend, the city framed 2026 as the starting point for expanding its gastronomy tourism strategy, built around four key areas: diversity, experience and stay, industry ecosystem, and branding.
Under the diversity strategy, the city aimed to strengthen both high-end dining and local food businesses, supporting small-scale restaurants and traditional markets alongside premium establishments.
The experience and stay component focused on extending food beyond meals, with plans to develop storytelling-based programs, seasonal food festivals, and themed food routes designed to encourage longer visits.
In terms of the industry ecosystem, Busan outlined efforts to connect food with related sectors such as ingredients, beverages, design, and hospitality, while also considering a centralized system to manage and support the industry more effectively.
Finally, the branding strategy centered on raising Busan’s global profile through initiatives such as supporting chefs, expanding international partnerships, and increasing participation in global food evaluation platforms.