BJFEZ Aims to Become a Global Hub for Culture and Education

“Little London” Confirmed for Myeongji International City – British Cultural Village Project Secured

• MOU signed on May 7 at 11 a.m. in the International Protocol Room on the 7^th floor of Busan City Hall
• Commissioner Park Sung-ho: “The BJFEZ will further solidify its status as a global cultural hub”

On May 7 at 11:00 a.m., the Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority (Commissioner Park Sung-ho, hereafter referred to as “the BJFEZ Authority”) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the establishment of a “British Cultural Village” in the Myeongji District. The MOU was signed to promote British culture and educational content in the district by representatives from the City of Busan (Mayor Park Heong-joon), the British Embassy Korea (Ambassador Colin Crooks), and the Royal Russell School Busan Campus Promotion Committee (Director Ronald Haddon), in the International Protocol Room on the 7th floor of Busan City Hall.

 

The signing ceremony was attended by Mayor Park Heong-joon of the City of Busan, Ambassador Colin Crooks of the British Embassy Korea, Director Ronald Haddon of the Royal Russell School Busan Campus Promotion Committee, and other officials.

 

Under the MOU, the City of Busan will provide administrative support for the project; the BJFEZ Authority will facilitate the necessary permits and approvals; the British Embassy will offer cultural consultation to ensure the authenticity of the British Cultural Village; and the Royal Russell School Promotion Committee will support project planning and implementation. All parties pledged close cooperation to bring the British Cultural Village to fruition.

 

The British Cultural Village will be developed in the Myeongji District—one of the core zones of the BJFEZ—and will feature: ▲Residential facilities: Villa complexes inspired by British architectural styles, ▲Cultural spaces: British-style streets featuring double-decker buses, clock towers, and spaces for performances and exhibitions, ▲Commercial areas: British-themed retail outlets, foreign medical services, and English-language educational institutions

 

The Myeongji District is being developed as a multifunctional city that integrates transportation, residential, educational, medical, and industrial functions. With the recent attraction of global foreign educational institutions, the area is rapidly laying the foundation to become an international city. The British Cultural Village is expected to become a symbolic project that enhances the global brand value of the Myeongji District.

 

Commissioner Park stated, “Through the British Cultural Village, the BJFEZ Authority aims to go beyond a thematic facility and strengthen the zone’s identity as a true global cultural center. The Myeongji District will be developed into a world-renowned city, fostering a virtuous cycle of attracting foreign educational institutions, global talent, and investment through infrastructure for culture, education, and R&D.”

 

The project is currently under site review, and the land selection will be finalized soon. Groundbreaking and construction are scheduled to begin in alignment with the opening of the foreign educational institutions currently underway.