The Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Jeon Jae-soo, has decided to halt the Pompidou Center Busan branch project.
 
The announcement marks the first follow-up measure to a commitment made at a town hall meeting on September 30, where Mayor Jeon stated, “What we hear today will shape Busan’s cultural policy.”
 
The city spent three months deliberating on the proposed Pompidou Center Busan branch and an invited performance by La Scala, without predetermining the outcomes of either project. For the Pompidou project, the city reviewed anonymous written opinions submitted by an 18-member policy review panel co-chaired by two city council members.
 
Mayor Jeon explained that the decision was made after considering the outcomes of this deliberative process in light of four core principles guiding city administration: “citizen-perceived impact,” “public interest,” “fiscal sustainability,” and “administrative accountability.”

Busan Halts Pompidou Center Branch Project, Citing Environmental Preservation at Igidae Park and Fiscal Prudence
 
The policy review panel did not reach a single recommendation due to differing views for and against the project, but it compiled majority and minority opinions on key issues. While some anticipated cultural and tourism benefits, the majority called for a reassessment of the project’s key conditions.
 
The Cultural Cooperation Committee also expressed more opposition than support overall. Even members who conditionally supported the project called for reconsidering the Igidae site, citing concerns about environmental damage.
 
Opinions were also divided at the town hall meeting. Supporters pointed to potential tourism and economic benefits, as well as an enhanced brand value for Busan. Opponents argued that, rather than bringing in a foreign brand, the city should strengthen its local identity and support and nurture local artists.

The city cited four reasons for halting the project following the deliberative process. First, building a permanent structure at Igidae, a national geopark with approximately 80 million years of geological history, would entail costs that outweigh the anticipated benefits.
 
Second, it would be difficult to adequately safeguard Busan’s rights and the public interest under the proposed contract. Many argued that the terms should be improved and that the artworks and content to be provided should be explicitly guaranteed.
 
Third, the project’s long-term financial burden remained uncertain. A feasibility study for the project estimated construction costs of approximately KRW 110 billion to be covered by the city and annual operating expenses of around KRW 12.5 billion. However, many expressed doubts about the reliability of the economic feasibility analysis.
 
Fourth, the project lacked sufficient consensus with the local art community and a clear plan for mutual growth, while its division of roles with existing art museums remained ambiguous.
 
The city nevertheless stated that it would pursue alternative policy measures to realize the public’s strong desire for world-class cultural infrastructure, as expressed during the deliberative process.
 
It plans to strengthen the exhibition, research, and collection capabilities of the Busan Museum of Art in eastern Busan and the Museum of Contemporary Art Busan in western Busan, while expanding exchanges with leading international museums to enhance the city’s exhibition capacity.
 
In addition, the city plans to establish a multidisciplinary cultural and exhibition space in the North Port area, a facility long sought by local artists, using funding entirely from the national government.

References

• 부산시 보도자료 (Busan Metropolitan City Press Release)