Songdo skywalk at sunset in Busan. Photo Credit: AdobeStock/nuttawutnuy
Competition to host South Korea’s 2028 Group of 20 (G20) summit is heating up, with Busan, Jeju and Incheon the latest to join the bid.
This month, Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo announced the bid, casting the southern port as Korea’s global maritime gateway and linking its campaign to North Port, transport connections and international-event infrastructure.
Busan’s announcement followed Incheon’s mayoral declaration on 7 October. Through a bid-support task force, the stakeholders are promoting a West Sea partnership model.
5 in the running
Gyeongsangbuk-do was the first to signal interest last December, selecting the G20 in December 2025 as a target international event after Gyeongju hosted the APEC summit. Jeonnam and Gwangju followed this February with a joint, distributed-hosting proposal built around democracy, human rights, renewable energy, artificial intelligence and K-culture.
Meanwhile, Jeju formed a dedicated task force in August this year, before launching its nationwide public-private campaign. Jeju’s pitch centres on the International Convention Center Jeju and the nearby Jungmun resort district.
Jeju also argues that its compact conference zone would shorten delegation travel and that the island’s limited access points could help with security. The claims are expected to face scrutiny in the central government’s evaluation and site inspections, particularly over air access, traffic control and the simultaneous movement and protection of large delegations.
Civic support turns up the heat
This week, local media reported that the Busan Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Residents’ Association, led by Chairman Kang Myeong-cheon, held a rally in support of Jeju’s bid.
The rally was held at the 18th Busan Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Residents’ Family Festival in the rival city of Busan. The event was attended by around 1,500 people, including Wi Seong-gon, governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province; National Assembly member Cho Seung-hwan; and Jeju natives living in Busan.
Road to a historic G20
South Korea’s 2028 presidency was first confirmed in the leaders’ declaration adopted at the 2025 G20 summit in Johannesburg. The 2028 summit will mark 20 years since the G20 was elevated to a leaders’ forum.
It will also be Korea’s second turn at the helm, after Seoul hosted the fifth G20 summit in November 2010.
President Lee Jae Myung had stated South Korea’s intentions to use its next presidency to reinforce the G20’s role as the premier forum for international economic cooperation.