Busan Invests in Cultural Accessibility as 15-Minute City Policy Expands

Busan is significantly increasing its investment in cultural and arts education programs, aligning with its ongoing “15-Minute City” initiative. A total of 850 million won (approximately $620,000 USD as of March 6, 2026) will be allocated to support arts education organizations throughout the city, a 20% increase from the previous year’s budget.

Expanding Cultural Reach Through the 15-Minute City

The Busan Cultural Foundation has selected 47 arts education organizations to deliver a diverse range of programs through November 2026. This expansion is part of a broader effort to ensure residents have access to cultural experiences within a 15-minute radius of their homes, a core tenet of Busan’s urban development strategy. Busan’s 15-Minute City plan aims to create vibrant, community-focused neighborhoods where residents can easily access essential services, cultural amenities, and green spaces.

Program Focus and Key Areas

The funded programs will focus on six key areas, reflecting Busan’s identity as a coastal city and addressing the needs of different age groups:

• Strengthening Regionality: Programs centered around marine culture and art education, regional base art education, and art education labs.
• Lifecycle Specialization: Targeted initiatives for future generations, young adults, and senior citizens.

Positive Impact of Cultural Arts Education

Recent evaluations of Busan’s cultural arts education programs have demonstrated positive outcomes across various indicators. These include increased cultural sensitivity, stronger social connections, improved emotional resilience, and a greater sense of community identity. The Busan Cultural Foundation reported that children and adolescents showed improved self-expression, middle-aged adults found renewed purpose, and seniors experienced enhanced emotional stability and regional belonging.

Strategic Alignment with Relocation Initiatives

The investment in cultural accessibility is also intended to improve the quality of life for employees of public institutions that have relocated to Busan. As stated by Cho Yu-jang, Director of the Culture Bureau at Busan Metropolitan City, the initiative aims to “enhance cultural accessibility within residents’ living areas and improve settlement satisfaction for employees of relocated public institutions.”

New Initiatives for 2026

The city will launch several new programs, including:

• “Our Neighborhood Cinema Salon”
• “Our Neighborhood Darak-bang (Multi-Joy Room)”
• “Ha-Ha Ho-Ho Nature Exploration Team”
• “Busan-style Culture Day” – weekly programs featuring reading, knitting, and crafts.
• Bi-weekly events from May to November, including cinema screenings, performances, ecological tours, and Wednesday night markets.

Vision for Busan

Oh Jae-hwan, CEO of the Busan Cultural Foundation, emphasized the commitment to expanding access to cultural and arts education within residential areas, particularly focusing on maritime and generational empathy education. The city envisions Busan as a 15-minute city where culture and community thrive, fostering a higher quality of life for all residents.