Busan cancels Pompidou branch and La Scala opening performance plans

Busan announced on October 14 that it would halt construction plans for a Pompidou Centre branch and would not invite Italy's La Scala theatre to perform at the opening of Busan Opera House. The city said its decision followed three months of deliberation involving expert reviews, discussions and a public survey. It applied criteria including public benefit, financial sustainability and administrative responsibility. [ 2 , 3 ]

For the museum, the city cited potential environmental damage at the coastal Igidae site, difficulties securing municipal rights and public benefits in the contract, long-term financial burdens and insufficient cooperation with local artists. A planning study estimated about 110 billion won in city construction costs and annual operating costs of about 12.5 billion won. For La Scala, the city said corporate donations and sponsorship had not reached the intended share of the budget. It also wanted clearer arrangements for local artists' participation and training, alongside sufficient time to prepare the venue. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

The city instead plans to strengthen its existing museums and pursue a nationally funded cultural exhibition space at North Port. The opera house is due for completion at the end of 2026, followed by safety and performance checks and trial performances in 2027 before formally opening in 2028. The decision sparked a political dispute. Former mayor Park Hyeong-jun (박형준) argued that the museum site was already developed and substantial performance sponsorship had been secured. The Democratic Party's Busan branch defended the review on October 15 as responsible administration and said continuity did not require preserving every predecessor's policy unchanged. [ 2 , 3 , 20 ]