The Busan City Council has called for concrete plans for the construction of the Busan Battle Memorial following the completion of a feasibility study and basic planning research in May of this year.
Although preliminary reviews for the memorial's construction were conducted seven years after the relevant ordinance was enacted in 2019, challenges remain, including site selection, securing funding, and determining operational methods.
During a five-minute speech at the first session of the 341st regular meeting on November 3, Council Member Ryu Do-hee urged the city to establish a phased execution plan for the memorial and to connect it with historical and cultural tourism projects.
78% Support for Construction; Key Issues Are Site and Funding
The Busan Battle refers to the victory achieved by the Joseon navy, led by Admiral Yi Sun-sin, against the Japanese navy at Busan Port during the Imjin War in 1592. The city has designated October 5 as 'Busan Citizens' Day' to commemorate this victory.
However, Ryu pointed out that public awareness of the historical significance of the Busan Battle is insufficient. Despite being a historical event closely tied to local identity, there is a lack of systematic means to educate and experience it.
In 2019, the city enacted the 'Busan Battle Memorial Support Ordinance,' and the feasibility study and basic planning research were completed in May of this year.
According to survey results released by Ryu, about 78% of respondents believe that the construction of the memorial is necessary. However, awareness of the specific details and historical significance of the Busan Battle was found to be relatively low.
Nonetheless, positive responses regarding the need for construction do not fully validate the project's feasibility. The study must assess financial burdens and the potential for facility utilization based on the reviewed site, construction scale, project costs, and annual operating expenses.
Ryu emphasized that the city should clarify the site, funding, and operational plans based on the research results and present a phased implementation schedule.
Increase in Foreign Tourists; Proposal to Link with Downtown Tourism
There are also calls to connect the memorial's construction with Busan's tourism industry.
According to Busan's tourism statistics, 3,434,620 foreign tourists visited the city from January to August this year, a 45.9% increase compared to the same period last year. By September, the cumulative number of visitors was approximately 3.93 million.
As the increase in tourists becomes a key issue for expanding local consumption and lengthening stay durations, Ryu proposed utilizing the Busan Battle Memorial as a facility to connect tourism in downtown and western Busan.
The plan involves creating a tourist route where visitors arriving through Busan Station and the International Passenger Terminal can learn about the history of the Busan Battle at North Port before exploring the alleys and traditional markets of downtown and historical and cultural sites in western Busan.
To achieve this, Ryu suggested implementing multilingual exhibitions and interpretations, family-oriented historical experiences, and nighttime cultural programs, as well as developing tourism products involving local merchants and the tourism industry.
Programs that can be utilized even before the memorial's construction were also proposed. These include temporary exhibitions using existing facilities at North Port, guided tours of the Busan Battle site, and experiential education for students and families to enhance citizens' historical understanding.
However, the increase in tourists does not automatically translate into demand for visits to the memorial or increased sales for surrounding businesses. To accurately assess the tourism impact, it is necessary to review expected visitor numbers, tourist routes, program operating costs, and connections with surrounding businesses.
Ryu stated, "The Busan Battle Memorial should be a space for learning and pride for citizens and a place for visitors to experience Busan's unique history."
The future of the memorial's construction discussions depends on subsequent decisions by the city. It is now crucial to make specific administrative judgments regarding which site and scale to adopt from the alternatives presented in the research and how to secure funding for construction and operations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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