Busanjin-gu Is on track to take back the top population spot in Busan

People walk on the track, and some people have a seat on the benches.

(Photo courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)

Haeundae’s long run as Busan’s most populated district looks set to end. After nearly two decades at number one, shifting residential patterns and a wave of redevelopment projects in Busanjin-gu are rapidly closing the gap and may push the district back to the top as early as next year.

Fresh data from the National Statistics Portal shows Haeundae-gu with 372,763 registered residents as of November, while Busanjin-gu follows closely with 365,388. It’s the smallest difference in years and a dramatic change from 2019, when more than 48,000 people separated the two districts.

Haeundae took the lead in 2006, replacing Busanjin after decades at the top. Since then, its reputation as Busan’s most desirable residential district has held firm until recently, when population trends began pulling in the opposite direction.

The shift has been driven largely in the heart of the city. From 2020 through last year, Busanjin-gu saw the arrival of 11 major apartment developments, around 10,000 units, across Cho-eup, Yeonji-dong, Jeonpo-dong, and Yangjeong-dong.

With easy access to Seomyeon, Busan Citizens Park, and key transit links, the district has become a new magnet for families and young professionals who previously flocked to the coast.

A recent population forecast released by the city suggested Busanjin-gu would surpass Haeundae by 2027, but recent growth has moved far ahead of schedule. Busanjin-gu already passed the city’s projected 2027 population mark back in February, and local officials now expect the district to take the top spot sometime in 2025.

The demographic momentum is also on Busanjin-gu’s side. Residents aged 18 to 39, those most likely to start families, make up 29.1% of the district’s population, the highest share in Busan.

Haeundae, by contrast, has seen steady outflows since hitting its peak population in 2012 and now has one of the lowest youth shares in the city at 22.5%.

Haeundae’s decline has reflected national headwinds: low birth rates, aging demographics, and ongoing migration of younger residents to the greater Seoul area. Local officials also point to aging housing in parts of the district and a growing preference for newer, centrally located developments popping up elsewhere.

Both districts are responding with a stronger focus on population policy. Haeundae has established a dedicated population team to evaluate major initiatives through a demographic lens, while preparing a five-year master plan and new advisory committee starting next year. Officials say their focus is “not on staying number one” but on building a more sustainable long-term balance.

Busanjin-gu, on the other hand, is planning for continued growth. District officials estimate its population could climb toward the 380,000 mark, and say they will continue investing in childcare support and family-focused policies to strengthen Busanjin’s appeal as a place to raise kids.

For Busan, the shift marks a generational change in how the city is growing, less about coastal glamour, and more about comfortable, urban living in the center of the city.

Fleet Chinhae