Having successfully hosted a series of world class international events including the 2002 Asian Games and APEC Summit 2005
Busan has truly evolved into a top global city.
Likewise, the Busan Foundation for International Cooperation (BFIC) has joined hands with the world for the past decade, never wavering as it vaults towards attaining the Premium World Class City of Busan.
A global era, marked by the convergence of diverse nationalities, ethnicities, and cultures A city creating happiness, where the people commune together in unity, like an ensemble of different musical instruments producing balanced, beautiful harmony.
The global city of Busan, maturing & flourishing through its people and its mix of technology & culture with BFIC standing right in its midst.
“The Premium Global City of Busan, a Great Place to Live for Koreans and Foreigners Alike”
At a time when Busan is home to 60,000 foreign residents BFIC has been delivering and array of support services & activities for foreign residents.
With help from BFIC, those who have left their native lands to make a new home can proactively cope with Korea’s unfamiliar culture and settle stably into the community.
For foreign newcomers to Busan, BFIC gets up close & personal to facilitate their initial settlement, from producing & distributing welcome letters and the “Life in Busan” guidebook, to counseling them not only on practical matters, but also specialized areas like labor, law, and immigration.
By initiating inclusive policies that value diversity including interpretation & translation services, Korean language classes, support for foreign communities’ BFIC also paves the way for foreign residents to become ever more a part of the city of Busan.
A valued friend to share your troubles with, a steadfast family member who comforts you in tough times Those titles also fit BFIC.
“Leading the globalization of Busan”
After concentrating chiefly on support services for foreign residents during its early period, BFIC has extended its reach into international exchange & cooperation.
Projects focused on overseas sisterhood & friendship cities in Japan, China, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Americas have helped to secure Busan’s brand as a global city.
Youth exchange with Chongqing, Kaohsiung, Surabaya, and Cebu
Civic events with China and Japan, featuring popular sports for all
These are central to BFIC’s efforts towards cross-cultural understanding, friendship, and cooperation.
Meanwhile, we also help local cultural troupes travel to overseas events, enabling a wide range of Busan residents to take part in international festivals and gain cross-cultural understanding.
In addition, BFIC has expanded networks & stimulated overseas exchange with sisterhood & friendship cities, participating in ‘Korean Day’ events and supporting for Korean language speech compeitions.
We also readily support the international exchange activities of civic groups.
Meanwhile, aiming to take an interest and engage with the international community’s shared issues, BFIC has been instrumental in Busan’s evolution as a fully-matured global city integrated with the world.
“Busan, a Future-oriented City Made Happier by Communication, Unity & Sharing”
Busan Global Supporters is a group involved in various activities to serve as a bridge between Koreans & foreign residents and to promote interchange.
For my part, I provide English interpretation services. It’s great because I get to improve my English and also help narrow the gap between Koreans & foreigners.
To sustain Busan’s ongoing evolution as a global city, it is vital for the city’s people to prossess a matching sense of global citizenship.
For this, BFIC runs the ‘Global Supporters’ group with local college students in the Busan region as the driving force, working to expand communication & interchange between Koreans & foreign residents.
In the same vein, BFIC also has been offering world language classes, global talk programs, and other events that allow foreign residents themselves to introduce their languages and culture.
By opening the Busan Global Center in 2011 to accommodate the needs of foreign residents and to encourage interchange between Koreans & foreign residents, BFIC has worked to make Busan a global city where locals & foreign residents live in harmony. BFIC has also nurtured the annual Global Gathering into Busan’s biggest global family-oriented festival, where festival-goers can experience a multitude of world cultures.
The eager passion and efforts of BFIC to make Busan a global city whose residents are linked by communication, unity, and sharing are continuing even at this very moment.
For the past ten years, BFIC has made ceaseless efforts to preapare for the coming era of Korean unitification and to establish a foothold for the expansion of Busan, as a gateway city, to the Eurasian continent.
Through the Korea-Russia Cooperation Center, BFIC has initiated vigorous exchange in areas like economy, culture, and youth.
Brokering Busan’s participation in the Rajin-Khasan logistics project by inviting Rasonkon Trans
Dispatching the Busan-Eurasia Cooperation delegation and being instrumental in the creation of the city’s team on South-North Korean economic cooperation.
To advance towards the new challenges and changes of 2016, the Korea-Russia Cooperation Center has been expanded to create the Eurasia Cooperation Center.
BFIC will also be at the forefront of Busan’s involvement in the Eurasia Initiative, use of the Northern Sea Route, and positioning as a key stronghold for the upcoming ‘unification bonanza’, including entry into international organizations by young adults from the Busan region.
Meanwhile, we will also try our best to support new convergence & hybrid business ventures in the global sector of Korea-China-Japan.
For the past decade, Bfic has workded ceaselessly to lead Busan’s globalization. Now we are poised to make even greater advances in our next decade.
Alongside the people of Busan, we will work vigorously towards becoming the “Premium Global City of Busan, a Great Place to Live for Koreans and Foreigners Alike.”
Busan to the world! The world to Busan!
Welcome to Busan! Welcome to Global Gathering! And feel at home!
Always pioneering new avenues, nvever resting in the same spot, demonstrating the singular passion & innovation of BFIC!
This is the power behind the engaging global city that Busan has become today.
Now, heading towards a new history, BFIC holds the world in its embrace as it sets sail for an even bigger dream.
Joining together with the world, helping to solidify Busan’s standing as a world-class city, we will soar even higher!