Busan integrates multiple events with 'October Festival' promotion, including BIFF

The Busan city government announced Thursday that it plans to attract 450,000 tourists to a newly organized “October Festival” that links 17 international events taking place across the city next month.

Haeundae Beach in Haeundae District, Busan [JOONGANG ILBO]

The Busan city government announced Thursday that it plans to attract 450,000 tourists to a newly organized “October Festival” that links 17 international events taking place across the city next month.

The city said that it modeled the festival around South by Southwest, which takes place annually in Austin, Texas, and aims to integrate events involving music, film, culture, food, industry and technology under the theme of “The Wind of October.”

Major events taking place in Busan in October include the Busan International Film Festival, Asian Contents & Film Market, Busan International Rock Festival, K-Music Season Good Night Concert, Busan Webtoon Festival, World Creator Festival, Beyond Hangeul & K-Culture International Festival, Busan International Food Expo and the Busan Marina Chef Challenge, Busan Craft Beer Festival, Asia Startup Expo, Busan Design Festival, ASEAN International Fashion Week and DIVE 2024 Global Data Hackathon, among others.

According to Busan Metropolitan City, October Festival attendees can buy integrated tickets allowing them to participate in 12 to 13 events at a 25 to 45 percent discount.

The city government said it hopes the draw of better known attractions, such as the Busan International Film Festival and the Busan International Rock Festival, will increase the total number of attendees at other events while maintaining the identity of the individual festivals.

The city also said it will run a dedicated October Festival Village and associated pavilion outside the BEXCO convention center for eight days to increase the visibility of the integrated festival and allow visitors to sample representative local dishes and music.

Sales of accommodation packages linked to partner hotels began on Sept. 4, according to the city government.

The city is also selling a “Visit Busan Pass” tourism package via Trip.com to draw tourists from mainland China, which celebrates a weeklong National Day holiday beginning Oct. 1.

Lee Jun-seung, the city’s vice mayor of administrative affairs, said he hopes the inaugural October Festival “will highlight Busan’s potential as a global tourism hub.”

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]