Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo Addresses Merchant Concerns Over Sajik Stadium

Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo stated that the ongoing debate over the Sajik Baseball Stadium reconstruction and the proposed Bukhang Dome Arena is creating immediate fallout for local businesses, as reported by munhwa.com. Speaking at a civic policy debate on October 7, Jeon acknowledged that uncertainty surrounding the facilities has caused storefront transactions to dry up and merchant rights to vanish near the existing stadium.

Business Fallout Around Sajik Stadium

Kim Jae-young, vice chairman of the Busan City Small and Medium Enterprises Association, pressed city officials at the Busan City Sports Hall regarding the real-world impact of the delayed timeline. Kim told munhwa.com that the stadium functions as a core economic driver for neighborhood merchants and demanded clarity on safety concerns, construction schedules, and how merchant input will be factored into the final design.

Responding to those pressures, Jeon noted that baseball generates substantial consumer activity in the surrounding district. According to munhwa.com, Jeon estimated that a single game produces roughly 10 billion won in consumer spending, translating to 600 billion to 1,000 billion won across a 60-game home season.

I do not have the authority to ask the people doing business around Sajik Baseball Stadium to bear losses. I will not leave merchants in a situation where they find it difficult to make a living.

Jeon Jae-soo

Dual-Facility Strategy for Busan

Despite the anxiety among local vendors, Jeon maintained that administrative schedules for the Sajik project have not slipped. He explained to munhwa.com that the city is utilizing the allotted time to gather thorough public feedback and draft careful mitigation measures rather than rushing the process.

The city aims to separate the functions of the two major sports hubs rather than transfer baseball entirely to the waterfront. Jeon clarified that the Bukhang Dome Arena will serve as a multi-purpose complex for large-scale concerts and diverse sporting events, while the Sajik area will retain baseball as its anchor while expanding grassroots and community sports facilities.

Upcoming Policy Announcement

The city administration plans to release a comprehensive package aimed at securing the economic viability of both Sajik and Bukhang. munhwa.com reported that Jeon outlined the upcoming announcement during a town hall meeting in the downtown district, promising an outcome designed to benefit all Busan residents.