Busan (Republic of Korea), 30 March 2026 — Busan Metropolitan City marked the launch of its World Design Capital® (WDC) 2028 designation last week, hosting a series of celebratory events that included an official Signing Ceremony at Nurimaru APEC House on 27 March 2026.
Hosted in partnership with World Design Organization (WDO)®, the Signing Ceremony welcomed a broad network of local and international representatives across government, industry, academia and civic organizations to witness the signing of a joint declaration and lay the foundation for a collaborative, design-led programme leading into 2028.
Distinguished guests included His Excellency Dr. Heong-joon Park, Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City and other key stakeholders from Busan Metropolitan Government, and members of the World Design Capital Busan 2028 Organizing Committee. The ceremony was further marked by the presence of the WDO Board of Directors, underscoring the Organization’s governance and commitment to the programme.
“The title of World Design Capital 2028 will be more than a symbolic designation for Busan,” stated Mayor Park during the ceremony. “Starting today, we will seek to bring about meaningful change – raising the role of design across the entire city, from urban spaces and industries to culture, the environment, and the everyday lives of our citizens.”
Representing WDO, President Pradyumna Vyas, recognized the day as a key moment celebrating the dedication, creativity and vision behind Busan’s World Design Capital designation. “As World Design Capital 2028, Busan now has the opportunity to showcase its design identity, accomplishments and aspirations on the world stage. The World Design Capital designation will open new doors. It will bring international visibility to this city, activate new partnerships and stimulate cross-sector dialogue that supports inclusive urban design.”
The event also saw the unveiling of the colour Busan has chosen to represent its World Design Capital year. A signature element of the programme since its inception in 2008, designated cities have all been identified by a distinct colour integral to their respective World Design Capital identities. Described as “inclusive purple,” Busan’s selected colour reflects the city’s broader thematic focus while also symbolically connecting to the Korean concept of jeong, a principle that will ensure collaboration and citizen participation remain central to their WDC programme.
Guided by the theme Inclusive City, Engaged Design, Busan will now embark on the development of its World Design Capital programme. Throughout 2028, the city will deliver a year-long calendar of local initiatives that engage and strengthen its design ecosystem, alongside a series of international signature events organized in partnership with WDO.
More information on World Design Capital Busan 2028 is available at wdo.org/wdcbusan2028
For press inquiries, please contact:
Natalie Dutil, WDO Communications Manager: natalie@wdo.org
About World Design Organization
World Design Organization (WDO)® is an international non-governmental organization and the international voice for industrial design. Serving over 200 member organizations across the globe, WDO promotes and shares knowledge of industrial design-driven innovation that enhances the economic, social, cultural and environmental quality of life. WDO.org
About World Design Capital
Designated every two years by the World Design Organization (WDO)®, World Design Capital® (WDC) recognizes cities for their effective use of design to drive economic, social, cultural, and environmental development. Through a year-long programme of events, the designated city showcases best practices in sustainable design-led urban policy and innovation that have reinvented their city and improved quality of life. Previous WDCs include Torino (Italy) in 2008, followed by Seoul (Republic of Korea) in 2010, Helsinki (Finland) in 2012, Cape Town (South Africa) in 2014, Taipei (Taiwan, Chinese Taipei) in 2016, Mexico City (Mexico) in 2018, Lille Metropole (France) in 2020, Valencia (Spain) in 2022 and the cities of San Diego (USA) and Tijuana (Mexico) in 2024. The region of Frankfurt RheinMain (Germany) holds the title in 2026, followed by Busan Metropolitan City (Republic of Korea) in 2028. The call for bids for the 2030 designation will be launched in September 2026 at WDO.org/wdc.
