Old port in Busan transforms into World Expo site

Redevelopment of Busan's North Port area is underway, Saturday. The site will be the main venue for the World Expo 2030 if Busan is picked as the host city in November. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

By Jun Ji-hye

Busan's historic North Port area is being transformed into an eco-friendly waterfront park for Busan citizens as well as a proposed World Expo 2030 site for tens of millions of expected visitors.

Korea's second-largest city, which is aiming to host the mega event in 2030, believes that transforming the old port area into a totally new space with tourist attractions and cultural facilities matches well with the main theme of Busan's Expo bid ― "Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future" ― as well as with one of the sub-themes: "Sustainable Living with Nature."

"The North Port area reflects the purpose of Expos that serve as a platform where technologies to address issues facing humanity are displayed, and future visions and ideas are shared," a Busan Metropolitan City official said. "It is the most optimal Expo site that matches well with the Bureau International des Expositions' (BIE) aim of pushing for sustainable development."

The BIE is the organization that supervises World Expos.

Busan's North Port area is seen from the North Port redevelopment exhibit hall, Friday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

The North Port began modern operation in 1876, becoming Korea's first modern port.

The port was used by Japan during Japan's 1910-45 occupation of Korea and was used by U.N. forces as a military supply base during the 1950-53 Korean War.

Then in 1978, the port opened a container terminal and eventually became the world's No. 3 container port in 2000.

But its reputation as one of the largest ports in the world began to fade after it was effectively replaced by Busan New Port in 2006 amid fierce global competition in logistics.

This led the Roh Moo-hyun government at the time to draw up the two-stage project to redevelop the North Port area that covers 3.83 square kilometers.

This was the country's first port redevelopment project estimated to be worth about 7.2 trillion won ($5.5 billion).

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Stage 1, which was finalized in 2007, is aimed at redeveloping part of the old port area for marine tourism, while stage 2 is to redevelop the remaining area into a hub for international business.

Busan's city government is planning to utilize both of the stage 1 and 2 areas as the proposed World Expo 2030 site, as construction for stage 1 is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, while stage 2 construction is set to begin next year, after the announcement of the World Expo 2030 host country in November this year.

A computer-generated image shows proposed developments on Busan's North Port area. Courtesy of Busan Metropolitan City

According to the Busan city government's 2030 Expo Bid Promotion Headquarters, the refurbishment would restore the port in an eco-friendly manner by making the most use of existing features, including three cranes, to be utilized as historic attractions.

"Most Expo sites have been constructed by destroying the environment, but Busan's site is different," said Cho You-jang, director general of the headquarters. "We will use eco-friendly materials and build eco-friendly transportation as well."

A person walks through a cultural park created in Busan's North Port area, Friday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

The marina facilities and a large waterfront park that were included in stage 1 of construction have already been opened to the public.

An area covering 2 square kilometers will be allocated for pavilions and exhibitions during the Expo, with the "Transformation Square" to be built there set to offer a venue where participants can engage in cultural exchanges.

The site will also feature an opera house with two basement floors and five ground floors, and a big data silo to archive World Expo-related documents, as well as an official development assistance (ODA) hall showcasing Korea's story of overcoming Japan's colonial occupation, the Korean War and extreme poverty.

One of the highlights of the project would be the installation of a floating island in collaboration with U.N.-Habitat, a United Nations agency promoting the development of socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities.

Busan's city government plans to create the island near its shore by the end of 2030 in a bid to suggest an alternative space for countries that may have to adapt to rising sea levels amid climate change.

Busan is competing with Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, Italy's Rome and Ukraine's Odesa to become the host city.

Korea will give a competitive presentation in June and a final presentation in November when the vote will be held to pick the host city.

"Through the presentations, we will show our will to create an Expo event that suggests a direction for humanity and embraces developing nations," Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon said.

This photo shows an envisioned floating community near the coast of Busan / Courtesy of OCEANIX, BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group