BUSAN — Innovation meets civic engagement this week as Busan hosts its first-ever Design Hackathon under the broader umbrella of "Design-Busan 2026." Opening today at the Busan Port International Exhibition and Convention Center (BPEX), the event has drawn 110 participants distributed across 10 dynamic multidisciplinary teams.

Running from November 5 to 15, the "Design-Busan 2026" initiative spans six designated hubs throughout the coastal metropolis, operating under the core pillars of "Ocean, People, and Environment."

Despite an initial target of 80 participants, the hackathon saw an overwhelming response, pulling in 144 applicants—a surge largely driven by the younger demographic. Individuals in their 20s and 30s comprised 73.6 percent of the applicant pool (106 participants). The event also attracted nationwide academic interest, with students representing 27 universities across South Korea, including eight local institutions in Busan.

Notably, the hackathon has taken on an international and cross-sector dimension. Foreign nationals from countries including the United States and the United Kingdom applied alongside citizens spanning multiple generations, from children to seniors. Among the international attendees are two notable independent participants from the British government: Ivelina Metchkarova of the UK Department for Transport and Lisa Vickers of the Government Digital Service (GDS), both drawn by Busan's collaborative civic innovation framework.

Working under the overarching theme, "Design a sustainable Busan where people stay, connections thrive, and values circulate," teams are tasked with translating daily urban experiences into actionable "future scenarios." Rather than abstract concepts, teams must illustrate through storytelling and visuals how new urban spaces or civic services will transform daily routines.

To bridge the gap between creative imagination and municipal reality, each team is embedded with local government officials and agency representatives. Professional facilitators and visualizers are also on hand to guide the ideation and bring conceptual scenarios to life.

Busan Metropolitan City announced plans to grant mayoral and agency-level accolades to the top-performing teams. Furthermore, city departments will actively review the feasibility of integrating these grassroots proposals into future municipal policies.

"The enthusiastic turnout of youth, local citizens, and international experts marks a vital milestone in co-creating Busan’s path forward," said Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo. "We are committed to turning these creative visions into a reality, building a city where everyone wants to build a life, work, and rest."

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