Korea-ASEAN Summit was a huge success

It raised the city’s stature while enhancing exchanges between Korea and ASEAN


The Korea-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit took place at BEXCO, Haeundae, and Nurimaru APEC House in Busan on Dec. 11-12. It was touted as a greatest success and received high acclaim.
Busan has thus achieved another feat hosting a large event after the 2005 APEC Summit, enhancing its brand as a city of international conventions.
The event also helped to build further trust and foster exchanges between Korea and ASEAN nations.

Korea’s landmark port city was visited by Korean President Park Geun-hye and other top leaders from 10 countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Myanmar for the event.
Some 3,500 people, including the ASEAN secretary general, cabinet members and businesspeople also descended on the city.

Apart from the summit meeting, President Park and 10 ASEAN leaders engaged in bilateral summit meetings, a CEO Summit and other diverse cultural events and exhibitions.
They also cemented friendship under the theme “Building Trust, Bringing Happiness” and looked for wisdom and resolutions for stronger cooperation ties, mutual prosperity and the development of Korea and ASEAN.

In light of its successful hosting of the summit, Busan was recognized as a city of international conventions again. On the last day of the Korea-ASEAN Summit, Dec. 12, President Park Geun-hye(middle) and other top leaders of the nations are taking group commemorative pictures at BEXCO Convention Hall, in Haeundae, Busan.


On the back of playing host to the meeting, Busan is slated to garner an economic spinoff effect worth 65.5 billion won ($59 million).
While the summit was being held, Busan was put in the spotlight around the world. A throng of foreign correspondents flocked to the city to cover the meeting.

There were foreign reporters from Russia, China and Japan while journalists from ASEAN member nations such as Singapore, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand visited Busan to report on the event and interview Park and Busan Mayor Suh Byung-soo in person.
Park expressed immense satisfaction at how prepared Busan was for the meeting and delivered gratitude to the city's citizens for their support.

ASEAN’s top heads also judged that the meeting in Busan was unparalleled as it helped to spur the growth of ASEAN and to solidify relations between Korea and ASEAN.
Busan Mayor Suh Byung-soo, via an interview with a foreign correspondent, proactively promoted the city as a global MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) hub with superb infrastructure while outlining the city’s charms, such as its strong culture, tourism, good dining and activities to enjoy.

ASEAN’s eyes were drawn by cultural events such as art and artifact exhibitions that showed Busan’s culture and flavor. The exhibitions were held at venues including Busan Museum, Busan Museum of Art and Centum City.
Local and foreign media competed with each other to report on Busan’s potential, in light of its successful hosting of the summit.