Busan has secured the 67th spot out of 270 global megacities, according to Resonance Consultancy's 'World's Best Cities 2024′ report. This is the first time Busan has been included in the list. The report, released by the global consulting firm, assesses cities based on different criteria such as livability, popularity, and prosperity.
Busan, located in the southern part of the Korea, is known for its seaside attractions and seafood cuisine. The city's major tourist sites attracted 6.29 million visitors in 2022, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.
Resonance Consultancy is a company that specializes in tourism, real estate, and economic development. Since 2016, they have been ranking the top 100 cities worldwide annually. The ranking includes metropolitan areas with populations over 1 million, and it is based on data and user evaluations from sources such as Google, Facebook, and Instagram.
The 2024 rankings saw London on the top, followed by Paris and New York. Seoul, South Korea, significantly jumped in the rankings, moving from 26th in 2023 to 10th in 2024, partly influenced by the 'Korean Wave(Hallyu),' referring to the rise of the popularity of Korean pop culture .
Busan has been ranked 67th in the list of world's best cities, surpassing Atlanta and Houston. It is attributed to various factors such as low poverty rate, high social media engagement, and being a major container port. Resonance Consultancy has referred to Busan as the 'Miami of Korea'.
"We will continue our efforts to make Busan a global hub city that attracts attention at home and abroad," said Park Heong-joon, the mayor of Busan.