North Port, the 2030 Busan World Expo site, holds a special significance to both Korea and Busan. As the first modern day trading port of Korea, the North Port served as an important pillar in the history of Korea’s development. Lying at the center of Busan, North Port is seen as a gateway to the continent and the oceans beyond. Furthermore, Korea’s first ever port redevelopment project is transitioning North Port into a new hub for Busan’s growth. North Port, which embraces the past, present and future of Busan, is now gearing up to kick off its journey to ‘navigate towards a better future’ with the world by serving as the host site of the 2030 Busan World Expo.

A Scenic View of North Port, Site of World Expo 2030 Busan, Korea. By Lee Won June

■Spearheading the Past and Present of Korea

Busan’s North Port played a pivotal role in the modern and contemporary history of Korea. In 1407, Busan’s first seaport opened under the name Busan-po. In 1876, the port changed its name to Busan Port and began its modern-day port operations. Since then, the port has become a major hub connecting Korea with Japan. Busan Port developed into a functioning modern trading port with the establishment of Pier 1-Pier 4, Central Terminal and Young-do Bridge.

Even after Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945, the port continued to play a crucial role by linking Korea with the rest of the world. During the Korean War, which broke out in 1950, the port served as an avenue where military supplies from UN Forces first arrived. During the Vietnam War, Busan Port dispatched combat units from Korea and welcomed the brave servicemen and women back home.

In the 1970’s, the port started to serve as an outpost for Korea’s robust exports. From 1974 to 1996, the port went through 4 phases of development, which resulted in building 8 additional piers, including Sinseondae Terminal and Gamman Terminal. As a result, the port rose to become the 3rd busiest container port in the world in 2000. Since than, the total cargo volume in the port skyrocketed and the port was often saturated. In 2006, the Busan Metropolitan City Government unveiled a plan to construct Busan New Port to handle the increasing cargo volumes and to redevelop North Port in an aim to return the port to local citizens. In 2007, the master plan for the North Port Redevelopment Project was unveiled. In the following year, the project broke ground and the redevelopment of North Port was underway.

■Envisioning the Future of Busan Through Its Robust Port Redevelopment Efforts

As the North Port welcomes a new chapter in its history marked by its redevelopment, the port is transitioning into an eco-friendly waterfront area. The North Port Redevelopment Project(Busan Port ·North Port Redevelopment Project) first began in 2008, with the construction of local infrastructure facilities under Phase 1, which is set to be completed soon. Preparations for Phase 2 of the redevelopment went into full swing in step with the city’s bid for the 2030 World Expo. Phase 1 of the North Port Redevelopment Project aims to rejuvenate the 1,545,029m area (both on land and water), including the site for the existing Coastal International Passenger Terminal, Pier 1-Pier 4, and Central Terminal. The goal is to transform the area into a waterfront park and multi-functional areas equipped with port, commercial and business facilities.

The total budget of 2.854 trillion Korean won will be injected into the project to complete Phase 1 of development by 2027. Construction of the site and parts of the infrastructure are scheduled to be completed in the first half of the year. The progress rate of the Busan Opera House, currently under construction as a key landmark facility, surpassed 40%. The Busan Port Authority (BPA) is currently proceeding with a public call to select a private sector developer for another landmark site.

A Busan consortium is preparing to sign a PPP contract with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries after the consortium was selected as the developer after Phase 2 of the North Port Redevelopment Project passed the national government’s preliminary feasibility study. Phase 2 (Area: 2,280,000m) seeks to redevelop Jaseongdae Terminal and aging areas in the old city center by constructing new infrastructure, such as roads and parks, and sites for commercial, housing, lodging, business and exhibition facilities. The project’s budget amounts to about 4 trillion Korean won.

In line with the North Port Redevelopment Project, facilities in the surrounding areas are also going through restoration efforts. Port operations in Jaseongdae Terminal will be terminated this coming December and transferred to the existing Gamman and New Gamman Terminal. Preparation is underway to relocate a government ship terminal and grain terminal to Busan New Port and Young-do islet respectively, as the floating city project is to be implemented in the existing area. Furthermore, preliminary procedures to relocate a container yard (CY, railway container yard) at Busanjin Station, which lies at the entrance of the Expo site, are being implemented with the aim of completing construction by 2028.

■‘Best-suited’ for the 2030 World Expo

Busan Metropolitan City chose North Port as the 2030 World Expo site as the port possesses both historical importance and symbolic relevance.

First and foremost, the North Port holds significance as representing the past, present and future of Korea. Korea was one of the poorest nations in the world which had to rely on aid supplies from overseas coming in from the North Port. Today, the country has risen to become one of the most advanced economies in the world by achieving growth at a rapid pace.

In addition to this, the city of Busan will present the Expo site as an eco-friendly future area to the rest of the world by creating a new space for business through the implementation of the first ever port redevelopment project in the country. The North Port is considered to be the best suited venue for the 2030 World Expo to explore its overarching theme “Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future” as the North Port played a decisive role in every major transitional period of Korea. By Kim Hyunjoo