Korea's second city runs the world's number-two transshipment port, broke its own visitor record twice in twelve months, and is building a ₩15.9 trillion airport on the sea — all while the KTX keeps Seoul two hours away.
Busan is the rare metropolis where the cargo statistics explain the holiday. The port's 24.88 million TEU and 57% transshipment share bankroll direct flights to 42 cities, a cruise terminal a ten-minute walk from the KTX station, and a hotel pipeline that has added a Wyndham Grand, an L7 and a Hyatt Place in three years.
The 2025–26 numbers are the sharpest in Asia: first Korean regional airport past ten million international passengers, first year above three million foreign visitors, foreign card spending up 50.8% with medical tourism up 118.4%. The 31st Busan International Film Festival runs 6–15 October 2026 — the city is, quite literally, having its moment.
Our seven studies map the machine: the Gimhae record and the Gadeokdo island airport dated for 2035, the KTX spine and the harbour, the port that aims to be the world's largest by 2045, the two coach terminals, the four-million-visitor year and the money trail from Haeundae to Seomyeon.
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