Busan, South Korea – Busan has made significant strides in becoming a global smart city, ranking 13th among 77 major cities worldwide in the 10th edition of the Smart Centres Index (SCI), released by UK-based consulting firm Z/Yen Group. The city announced on November 27th that it has climbed steadily in the rankings since its first appearance in the 62nd position three years ago.

In the Asia region, Busan has secured the 3rd spot, following Singapore and Dubai, marking its first time surpassing Hong Kong. Other notable cities in the top 11 include London, New York, Zurich, San Francisco, Cambridge, Geneva, Oxford, Tel Aviv, Los Angeles, and Dubai. Hong Kong (15th), Berlin (16th), Vancouver (21st), Seoul (30th), Beijing (36th), and Tokyo (38th) ranked below Busan.

Busan excelled in all six sub-categories of the competitiveness assessment, securing top-10 positions in each. The city ranked 6th in business environment, 8th in human capital, 8th in financial support, 10th in infrastructure, 8th in reputation, and 11th in advanced technology.

Particularly noteworthy is Busan's ranking in the reputation category, where it secured the top spot for the second consecutive time based on an online survey of global experts in the smart city field.

Founded in 1994, Z/Yen Group, a London-based consulting firm, has been publishing the Smart Centres Index twice a year since July 2020. The index evaluates cities worldwide using 132 statistical indicators and expert surveys related to smart cities.

Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun expressed his satisfaction with the results, stating, "Busan has firmly established itself as a top-tier smart city in Asia. We will continue to strive to create a virtuous cycle of digital economy and emerge as a global hub city."