Busan’s Haeundae Beach Gets Korea’s First Global Tourism Zone

Busan's trendy Haeundae district just became South Korea's first official global tourism zone, backed by 6 billion won in government funding through 2027. The move aims to transform the beach area into a year-round destination for living, working, and traveling—not just summer vacations. Foreign visitor numbers to Busan jumped 43.9% in the first half of 2026, hitting 2.42 million travelers.