GREETINGS
FROM THE HEAD
Today countries are growing more and more interested in regional studies, and
each region becomes engaged in fostering its development and improving the
quality of life of its residents. Therefore it is time to make solid academic
research on Busan to reflect on matters of the city.
In retrospect, Busan played a leading role at the beginning of the
industrialization in Korea, and was the provisional capital of Korea during the
Korean War. Busan also has contributed a lot to the country’s economic growth as
Korea’s second largest city. However, although much time has passed, Busan
hasn’t laid solid foundations for a better future yet, and it leads to fragile
status of Korea’s second largest city.
Busan has also failed to establish its own identity to bring the people
together, and the Busan economy is stagnant because it failed to come up with
new industries despite a one-time leader in the economic growth. Investors have
been not attracted to Busan because of increased cost of land, the shortage of
land and qualified manpower, etc. Even the qualified manpower move out of Busan
that has depended on them from other towns.
In the era of the knowledge economy and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is
severe for Busan to lack the capacity to attract the talented manpower, because
it means that Busan has a weak foundation of leading future industries. The
population of Busan continues to decline, and the aging population is increasing
much faster than in other regions. Therefore, it is urgent for us to gain a
foothold for a new leap forward as soon as possible.
To meet these challenges of our city, it is necessary to concentrate on the
serious study on Busan. Recently there are, of course, increasing numbers of
quantitative and qualitative studies on Busan than in the past, and more
individual studies help us understand the various sides of Busan the people had
never known. However, the city hasn’t reached a stage of integrating the
findings from the studies into the driving force behind development of Busan
Now further efforts are needed to establish Busan’s future strategy through
finding the identity of Busan, and understanding the capacity of Busan
correctly. To do this, the Busan Studies Center of Silla University will
continue its efforts. We are always open to every citizen who are concerned to
Busan, and want to help develop the city, and we will make our best to pool our
wisdom for the development of Busan.
August 19, 2017
Director Dr. Daerae Kim
