Busan

Busan 부산시
Metropolitan City
Busan Metropolitan City 부산광역시
transcription(s)
• Hangul	부산광역시
• Hanja	釜山廣域市
• Revised Romanization	Busan Gwangyeoksi
• McCune-Reischauer	Pusan Kwangyŏksi[1]
Top: Aerial view of Busan with Gwangandaegyo Middle: Haeundae Beach (left), Jagalchi Market (right) Bottom: Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (left), Haeundae at night (right)
Emblem of Busan
Map of South Korea with Busan highlighted
Coordinates: 35°10′N 129°04′E / 35.167°N 129.067°E / 35.167; 129.067Coordinates: 35°10′N 129°04′E / 35.167°N 129.067°E / 35.167; 129.067
Country	South Korea
Region	Yeongnam
Districts	16
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
• Mayor	Oh Keo-don (Democratic)
• Body	Busan Metropolitan Council
• National Representation  - National Assembly	18 / 299 6.0% (total seats) 18 / 245 7.3% (constituency seats) List Park Minshik (Saenuri) Buk-guGangseo-gu Gap district Huh Tae Yeol (Saenuri) Buk-guGangseo-gu Eul district Hur Won Je (Saenuri) Busanjin-gu Gap district Lee Jong Heuk (Saenuri) Busanjin-gu Eul district Lee Jin Bok (Saenuri) Dongnae-gu district Kim Se Yeon (Saenuri) Geumjeong-gu district Suh Byung Soo (Saenuri) Haeundae-guGijang-gun Gap district An Kyung Ryul (Saenuri) Haeundae-guGijang-gun Eul district Chung Ui-Hwa (Saenuri) Jung-guDong-gu district Kim Jung Hoon (Saenuri) Nam-gu Gap district Kim Moo Sung (Saenuri) Nam-gu Eul district Hyun Ki Hwan (Saenuri) Saha-gu Gap district Cho Kyoung Tae (Democratic United) Saha-gu Eul district Chang Je Won (Saenuri) Sasang-gu district Yoo Kijune (Saenuri) Seo-gu district Yoo Jae Jung (Saenuri) Suyeong-gu district Kim Hyong-O (Saenuri) Yeongdo-gu district Park Dae Hae (Saenuri) Yeonje-gu district
Area[citation needed]
• Total	770.04 km2 (297.31 sq mi)
Population (June 2018)[3]
• Total	3,506,103[2]
• Dialect	Gyeongsang
Area code(s)	(+82) 051
ISO 3166 code	KR-410
Flower	Camellia flower
Fish	Mackerel
Bird	Seagull
GDP	US$758.4 billion[4]
GDP per capita	US$22,000[4]
Website	english.busan.go.kr

Busan
Hangul	부산
Hanja	釜山
Revised Romanization	Busan
McCune–Reischauer	Pusan
Busan Metropolitan City
Hangul	부산광역시
Hanja	釜山廣域市
Revised Romanization	Busan Gwangyeoksi
McCune–Reischauer	Pusan Kwangyŏksi

Busan (Korean pronunciation: [pu.sɐn]), formerly known as Pusan and now officially Busan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's second most-populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.5 million inhabitants.^[5] It is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern Korea, with its port—Korea's busiest and the 9th-busiest in the world^[a]—only about 120 miles (190 km) from the Japanese islands of Kyushu and Honshu. The surrounding "Southeast Economic Zone" (including Ulsan and South Gyeongsang) is now South Korea's largest industrial area.

Busan is divided into 15 major administrative districts and a single county, together housing a population of approximately 3.6 million. The full metropolitan area, including the adjacent cities of Gimhae and Yangsan, has a population of approximately 4.6 million. The most densely built-up areas of the city are situated in a number of narrow valleys between the Nakdong and the Suyeong Rivers, with mountains separating most of the districts. The Nakdong is Korea's longest river and Busan's Haeundae Beach is also the country's largest.

Busan is a center for international conventions, hosting APEC in 2005. It is also a center for sports tournaments in Korea, having hosted the 2002 Asian Games and FIFA World Cup. It is home to the world's largest department store, the Shinsegae Centum City.^[7]

Names[edit]

The name "Busan" is the Revised Romanization of the city's Korean name since the late 15th century.^[8] It officially replaced the earlier McCune-Reischauer romanization Pusan^[9] in 2000.^[b] The name 釜山 (now written 부산 using the hangul syllabary) is Sino-Korean for "Cauldron Mountain", believed to be a former name of Mt Hwangryeong (황령산, 荒嶺山, Hwangryeong-san) west of the city center. The area's ancient state Mt Geochil (거칠산국, 居柒山國, Geochilsan-guk, "Rough-Mountain Land") is similarly thought to refer to the same mountain, which towers over the town's harbor on the Suyeong. (The later Silla district of Geochilsan-gun was renamed Dongnae in 757.)

History[edit]

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Paleolithic Age: Paleolithic remains found in the Jung-dong district and Jwa-dong district in Haeundae shows a history of Busan beginning in the prehistoric age. In addition, neolithic relics were discovered in shell mounds in Dongsam-dong, and a shell mound dating between the BCE era to the 3rd Century A.D. was found in the Dongnae district.

Mt Geochil (Geochilsan-guk) is recorded as a chiefdom of the Jinhan Confederacy in the 2nd–4th centuries. It was absorbed by Silla and organized as a district (gun). The grave goods excavated from mounded burials at Bokcheon-dong indicate that a complex chiefdom ruled by powerful individuals was present in the Busan area in the 4th century, just as Korea's Three Kingdoms were forming. The mounded burials of Bokcheon-dong were built along the top of a ridge that overlooks a wide area that makes up parts of modern-day Dongnae-gu and Yeonje-gu. Archaeologists excavated more than 250 iron weapons and ingots from Burial No. 38, a wooden chamber tomb at Bokcheon-dong.

From the beginning of the 15th century, the Korean government designated Busan as a trading port with the Japanese and allowed their settlement.^[13] Other Japanese settlements in Ulsan and Jinhae diminished later, but the Busan settlement continued until Japan invaded Korea in 1592. After the war, diplomatic relations with the new shogunate in Japan were established in 1607, and Busan was permitted to be reconstructed. The Japanese settlement, though relocated into Choryang later, continued to exist until Korea was exposed to modern diplomacy in 1876. In 1876, Busan became the first international port in Korea under the terms of the Treaty of Ganghwa.

During the Japanese rule, Busan developed into a hub trading port with Japan. Busan was the only city in Korea to adopt the steam tramway before electrification was introduced in 1924.^[14]

During the Korean War, Busan was one of only two cities in South Korea not captured by the North Korean army within the first three months of the war, the other being Daegu. As a result, the cities became refugee camp sites for Koreans during the war.^[15]

As Busan was one of the few areas in Korea that remained under the control of South Korea throughout the Korean War, for some time it served as a temporary capital of the Republic of Korea. UN troops established a defensive perimeter around the city known as the Pusan Perimeter in the summer and autumn of 1950. Since then, the city has been a self-governing metropolis and has built a strong urban character.

In 1963, Busan separated from Gyeongsangnam-do to become a Directly Governed City (Jikhalsi). In 1983, the provincial capital of Gyeongsangnam-do was moved from Busan to Changwon.

In 1995, Busan became a Metropolitan City (Gwangyeoksi).

Geography[edit]

Busan is located on the Southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula. It is located on the coast, which determined the development of the whole city itself. It is the nearest of South Korea's six largest cities to Japan. The distance as the crow flies from Busan to Tsushima Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, is about 49.5 km (31 mi), to Fukuoka, Japan, about 180 km (112 mi), and by contrast, to Seoul about 314 km (195 mi). Busan borders low mountains on the north and west, and the seas on the south and east. The Nakdong River Delta is located on the west side of the city, and Geumjeongsan, the highest mountain in the city, on the north. The Nakdong River, South Korea's longest river, flows through the west and empties into the Korea Strait. The southeastern region, called Yeongnam in Korea, encompasses both Gyeongsang Provinces and 3 metropolitan cities of Busan, Daegu and Ulsan. Ulsan lies northeast of Busan. Combined population exceeds 13 million.

Climate[edit]

Busan (1981–2010)
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     34     8 −1     50     10 1     81     13 5     133     18 10     157     22 14     207     24 18     317     27 22     255     29 23     158     26 20     58     22 14     46     16 8     23     11 2 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.4     46 31     2     50 34     3.2     56 41     5.2     65 50     6.2     71 57     8.1     76 64     12     81 71     10     85 74     6.2     79 67     2.3     72 57     1.8     61 46     0.9     51 36 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches

Located on the southeasternmost tip of the Korean Peninsula, Busan has a cooler version of a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cwa).^[16] Extremely high or low temperatures are rare. The highest temperature ever recorded is 37.3 °C (99.1 °F) on 14 August 2016^[17] while the lowest temperature ever recorded is −14.0 °C (6.8 °F) on 13 January 1915.^[18] May to July, late Springs and early Summers, are usually cooler than inland regions because of the ocean effect. Late Summer, and early Autumn, August and September, are generally hot and humid and the city may experience typhoons at that time and be generally rainy. On September 15, 1959, Super Typhoon Sarah passed by the coast of the city and caused catastrophic damage. An unusually severe storm on September 12, 2003, Typhoon Maemi, also caused damage to ships and buildings and resulted in over 48 fatalities.

October and November are generally the most comfortable, with clear skies and pleasant temperatures. Winters are cold and comparatively dry with high winds, but much milder than other parts of Korea except Jeju-do and several islands off the southern coast. Busan and the nearby area has the least amount of snow compared to other regions of Korea due to its location. Snow falls on an average of only about 5 days per year.^[19] Even a little accumulation of snow can effectively shut down this seaport city because of the hilly terrain and unfamiliarity of motorists with driving on snow.

Climate data for Busan (1981–2010, extremes 1904–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	18.4 (65.1)	20.3 (68.5)	22.9 (73.2)	28.1 (82.6)	34.0 (93.2)	33.4 (92.1)	35.8 (96.4)	37.3 (99.1)	35.2 (95.4)	29.8 (85.6)	25.6 (78.1)	20.9 (69.6)	37.3 (99.1)
Average high °C (°F)	7.8 (46)	9.8 (49.6)	13.4 (56.1)	18.2 (64.8)	21.7 (71.1)	24.4 (75.9)	27.3 (81.1)	29.4 (84.9)	26.3 (79.3)	22.4 (72.3)	16.3 (61.3)	10.5 (50.9)	18.9 (66)
Daily mean °C (°F)	3.2 (37.8)	4.9 (40.8)	8.6 (47.5)	13.6 (56.5)	17.5 (63.5)	20.7 (69.3)	24.1 (75.4)	25.9 (78.6)	22.3 (72.1)	17.6 (63.7)	11.6 (52.9)	5.8 (42.4)	14.7 (58.5)
Average low °C (°F)	−0.6 (30.9)	1.1 (34)	4.9 (40.8)	9.9 (49.8)	14.1 (57.4)	17.9 (64.2)	21.8 (71.2)	23.4 (74.1)	19.5 (67.1)	14.1 (57.4)	7.8 (46)	2.0 (35.6)	11.3 (52.3)
Record low °C (°F)	−14.0 (6.8)	−12.6 (9.3)	−9.7 (14.5)	−1.5 (29.3)	5.4 (41.7)	9.3 (48.7)	13.8 (56.8)	15.4 (59.7)	9.6 (49.3)	1.8 (35.2)	−6.5 (20.3)	−12.0 (10.4)	−14.0 (6.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	34.4 (1.354)	50.2 (1.976)	80.7 (3.177)	132.7 (5.224)	157.4 (6.197)	206.7 (8.138)	316.9 (12.476)	255.1 (10.043)	158.0 (6.22)	58.4 (2.299)	45.8 (1.803)	22.8 (0.898)	1,519.1 (59.807)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	5.5	6.2	8.4	9.1	9.4	10.4	13.6	11.5	9.3	5.2	5.5	4.2	98.3
Average snowy days	1.7	1.4	0.8	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.2	1.1	5.2
Average relative humidity (%)	48.3	51.4	57.7	62.7	69.8	77.4	84.3	79.9	73.9	64.0	57.0	50.1	64.7
Mean monthly sunshine hours	199.0	182.5	193.0	210.0	221.7	179.7	165.8	200.9	167.2	208.9	194.4	204.3	2,327.3
Percent possible sunshine	63.6	59.3	52.0	53.6	51.1	41.4	37.5	48.2	44.9	59.6	62.6	67.0	52.3
Source: Korea Meteorological Administration[20][17][18] (percent sunshine and snowy days)[19]

Administrative divisions[edit]

In 1957 Busan adopted a division system with the creation of six gu (districts): Busanjin-gu, Dong-gu, Dongnae-gu, Jung-gu, Seo-gu, and Yeongdo-gu. Today, Busan is divided into fifteen gu and one gun (county). Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS), Statistics Korea (2017)

Subdivision	Korean	Area (km²) [21]	Population (January 2018)[22]
Buk-gu	북구; 北區	39.36	303,955
Busanjin-gu	부산진구; 釜山鎭區	29.70	372,922
Dong-gu	동구; 東區	9.73	90,668
Dongnae-gu	동래구; 東萊區	16.63	271,350
Gangseog-gu	강서구; 江西區	181.50	123,636
Geumjeon-gu	금정구; 金井區	65.27	249,054
Haeundae-gu	해운대구; 海雲臺區	51.47	417,174
Jung-gu	중구; 中區	2.83	45,821
Nam-gu	남구; 南區	26.81	278,681
Saha-gu	사하구; 沙下區	41.75	337,423
Sasang-gu	사상구; 沙上區	36.09	233,443
Seo-gu	서구; 西區	13.93	111,906
Suyeong-gu	수영구; 水營區	10.21	181,526
Yeongdo-gu	영도구; 影島區	14.15	124,918
Yeonje-gu	연제구; 蓮堤區	12.08	207,396
Gijang-gun	기장군; 機張郡	218.32	164,546

Economy[edit]

Busan is the 2nd largest city in Korea, a maritime logistics hub in Northeast Asia with its world-class mega ports, and a gateway to the Eurasian continent.^[23] In 2017, the maritime city recorded a GRDP of USD 758.4 billion with a per capita GRDP of USD 22,000. The city’s economy is made up of the service industry (70.3%), manufacturing (19.8%), construction (5.9%), agriculture & fisheries (0.8%), and other sectors (3.2%).

As the 6th largest port in the world, the port of Busan processed 20.47 million TEU of container cargo volume in 2017. The port’s container terminal has 43 berths - 20 berths at the North Port, and 23 berths at the Busan New Port (including 2 multi-purpose berths). Moreover, the city is a center of marine science and R&D, and home to a number of relevant institutions, such as the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), the Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST), the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service, the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency (KHOA), and the Korea National Maritime Museum, located in Dongsam Innovation Complex in Yeongdo-gu district. Moreover, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) World Congress is scheduled to be hosted in Busan in 2020. (Busan New Port)

In addition, Busan is the city of festivals and film. A variety of festivals are held in the city throughout the year. Following the Joseon Tongsinsa Festival (Registration of Documents on Joseon Tongsinsa on the UNESCO Memory of the World in 2017) and Busan Port Festival in May, the Busan Sea Festival at Haeundae Beach, the largest beach in Korea, and the Busan International Rock Festival take place in August. In particular, October is the perfect month to enjoy a variety of festivals, such as the Busan International Film Festival, the largest film festival in Asia, the Busan Fireworks Festival, and the One Asia Festival, a global K-pop music festival. In addition, G-Star, the largest gaming exhibition in Korea, and e-Sports World Championship are hosted in November, followed by the Busan Christmas Tree Festival in December. (Busan Fireworks Festival)

The city is also known for its global MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry. The city is ranked 5th in Asia and 10th in the world in terms of the number international conferences hosted in the city. The city’s convention and exhibition zone boasts excellent conditions and infrastructure to host large-scale international events, which includes BEXCO in Centum City, Nurimaru APEC House, and luxurious hotels nearby beautiful natural environments. Major international conferences in Busan include the 2005 APEC Economic Leaders Meeting, ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit 2014, and 2018 African Development Bank Group Annual Meetings. (BEXCO)

Moreover, Busan is also a center of finance. Korea Exchange (KRX), Korea's sole securities exchange operator, is headquartered in Busan. The city is home to a number of financial institutions, such as the Korea Technology Finance Corporation, Korea Asset Management Corporation, Korea Housing-Finance Corporation, Korea Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation, Korea Securities Depository, Korea Maritime Guarantee Insurance, Maritime Finance Center, The Korea Shipping and Maritime Transportation Co., Ltd, Korea Asset Management Corporation, and BNK Financial Group.

Commercial areas are dispersed throughout the city near busy intersections and adjacent to university campuses, but the two largest central business districts in Busan are Seomyeon and Gwangbok-dong/Nampo-dong. There are also four substantial shopping areas of note: Seomyeon, Gwangbok-dong, Busan Daehak-ga in Jangjeon-dong, and Centum City in Haeundae-gu.

Seomyeon is the crossroads of Busan. The local subway station serves two lines and is one of the busiest in the city. Seomyeon subway station is also home to a large number of underground shops, selling a variety of products, predominately clothing and footwear. These are small boutique shops, selling locally produced products. The local head offices of Korean and international banks are located in Seomyeon. It is recognized as the ascendant shopping and entertainment district. It is also home to "Seomyeon Medical Street", the district encompassing the 1 km-radius range around Lotte Department Store in Seomyeon and the Buam subway station. The Street is home to a total of 160 cosmetic and other medical clinics, including those specializing in cosmetic surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology and dentistry.^[24][25] Directly adjacent to Seomyeon is Bujeon Market, the largest traditional market in the city.

The Gwangbok-dong, Nampo-dong, and Jungang-dong areas form the old central business district. Some of the restaurants in this district use family recipes passed down the generations. Jagalchi Market, a large seafood market, is located in this area. The Gukje Market is also nearby. Jungang-dong is the home of many international law offices, the old Immigration Office, and the international ferry terminal serving Japanese routes. Lotte World II is currently under construction along the water between Jungang-dong 7-Ga and 8-Ga.^[26]

Centum City, an industrial complex, is a popular new shopping area with luxury department stores.

Busan has many major department stores, including Lotte Department Store (located in Seomyeon, Centum City, Gwangbok-dong and Dongnae), Lotte Premium Outlet (in Gimhae and Gijang), Shinsegae Premium Outlet (in Gijang), as well as large supermarket chains across the city, such as Home Plus, E-mart, and Costco.

Busan’s major 5-star hotels include; The Westin Chosun Busan, Paradise Busan, and Park Hyatt Busan. In 2017, the 7-star Hilton Hotel and Ananti Cove resort opened in the Osiria Tourism Complex, Gijang-gun district, drawing a number of guests from home and abroad.

Store	Locations of Branch(es) in Busan
Lotte Department Store	Centum City, Seomyeon, Gwangbok, Dongnae
Shinsegae Department Store	Centum City
Hyundai Department Store	Beomil-dong

Premium outlets[edit]

Store	Location
Lotte Premium Outlets	Gimhae
Shinsegae Simon Premium Outlets	Gijang
Lotte Mall DongBusan	Gijang

Major large discount stores[edit]

Store
Home Plus
E Mart
Lotte Mart
Hanaro Club
Mega Mart
Costco

Educational facilities[edit]

Universities with graduate schools[edit]

• Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS)
• Busan Presbyterian University
• Busan National University of Education (BNUE)
• Catholic University of Pusan
• Tongmyong University
• Dongseo University
• Dong-A University
• Dong-eui University
• Inje University – Busan Campus
• Kosin University
• Korea Maritime and Ocean University
• Kyungsung University
• Pukyong National University (PKNU)
• Pusan National University (PNU)
• Silla University
• Youngsan University

Other institutes of higher education[edit]

• Busan Arts College
• Busan College of Information Technology
• Busan Kyungsang College
• Busan Polytechnic College
• Daedong College
• Dong-Pusan College
• Dongju College
• Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology

Foreign schools[edit]

Primary and secondary schools:

• Busan International Foreign School^[27] ( Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade)
• Busan Foreign School^[28] (Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade)
• Overseas Chinese High School, Busan
• Overseas Chinese Elementary School Busan (韓國釜山華僑小學/부산화교소학교)^[29]
• Busan Japanese School (釜山日本人学校/부산일본인학교)

Colleges and universities:

• Friedrich-Alexander University Busan Campus^[30] (German University in Korea)

Culture and attractions[edit]

Busan not only features a variety of antique and souvenir shops, but also unique restaurants, attractions and accommodations.

Parks, beaches, and highlights[edit]

Nampo-dong is a central shopping and café district. The area around Pukyong National University and Kyungsung University also has many cafés, bars, and restaurants attracting college students and youth.

Busan is called the summer capital of Korea since it attracts tourists from all over the country to its six beaches. Luxury hotels and a carnival boardwalk line the beach at Haeundae.^[31] Gwangalli Beach has cafés, bars, and restaurants along the beach, and the Grand Gwangan Bridge. Other beaches include Dadaepo Beach on the west edge of the city and Songdo Beach, which is south-central.

Geumjeongsan to the west is a weekend hiking spot for Busan residents. To the north, the neighborhoods around Pusan National University (also known as PNU, which is one of the most highly recognized national institutes of higher education in Korea) have student theaters, cafés, bars and restaurants, as well as open-air cultural street performances on weekend nights. Nearby is Beomeosa, the city's main Korean Buddhist temple.

Yongdusan Park occupies 69,000 square meters/17 acres (7 ha) and is home to the Busan Tower, Yongdusan Art Gallery, and the Busan Aquarium, the largest aquarium in South Korea. The park supports approximately seventy different species of trees and is a tourist destination, with various cultural events throughout the year.^[32]

Dongnae-gu is a wealthy and traditional residential area. Dongnae Oncheon is a natural spa area with many baths, tourist hotels, restaurants, clubs and shopping areas. Many restaurants in the area use family recipes. Chungnyeolsa is a Confucian shrine for soldiers who died during the 16th century battle against the Japanese at Dongnae Fortress.^[33]

Taejongdae is a natural park with cliffs facing the open sea on the island of Yeongdo.

The area known as the "Foreigners' Shopping Street", but commonly referred to as "Texas Street" near part of the Port of Busan, and adjacent to the front entrance to the Busan Train Station (부산역) has many businesses that cater to the local Russian population, as well as the crews of foreign ships. The area was originally the location of the local Chinatown and still contains a Chinese school.

Haedong Yonggung temple is one of three sacred places related to the Goddess Buddha. It is located right next to the sea. It lies on a mountain in the front and the sea at the back.

Gamcheon Cultural Village, was created in the 1950s as a residential community along a mountain slope. The houses in the village are built in staircase fashion. The village, often dubbed as the ‘Machu Picchu of Korea’, attracts many tourists. In addition, the village received special mention during the 3rd edition of the international award ceremony, “UCLG-MEXICO CITY-Culture 21

Busan Citizens Park (formerly Camp Hialeah) is a former Imperial Japanese Army base and United States Army camp located in the Busanjin District.

Dongbaek island Dongbaek Island is located at the southern end of Haeundae Beach. The island creates a picturesque scene in harmony with a thick forest of camellias and pine trees. Tourist attractions on Dongbaek Island include a walking path and the Nurimaru APEC House, built for the 2005 APEC summit.

Huinnyeoul Culture Village Huinnyeoul Culture Village was created when Korean War refugees flocked to this area. It provides an unhindered view of both the Busanhang and Namhang Ports. A major backdrop of the acclaimed Korean movie, ‘The Attorney’, the neighborhood was also featured in yet another Korean hit, ‘Nameless Gangster: Rules of Time’. The small houses that stand shoulder to shoulder form the signature look of Busan, which is often remembered as a city of the sea and hilly neighborhoods. The village continues to attract an increasing number of visitors with its new cafes, workshops, and guesthouses.

Millak Waterfront Park : Millak Waterfront Park is the first waterfront park in Korea, which combines the oceanfront with public leisure facilities. The park is located between Haeundae Beach and Gwangalli Beach. The waterfront park, with an area of 33,507m² , can accommodate as many as 40,000 visitors. The floor of the park is decorated with colorful blocks, and the park provides visitors a perfect chance to relax, and features flower gardens, gazebos, and benches. If you sit on the 3,040–wide stand, you can dip your feet in the water during high tide.

Daejeo Ecological Park: With a length of 7.62 km (4.73 mi) and a size of 2.66 km² (1.03 sq mi), designated as Natural Monument No. 179, Daejeo Ecological Park is a habitat for migratory birds at the Nakdong River Estuary. The estuary was chosen as a trial project for the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project. The sports facilities were partially built on the upper and lower parts of the park only, while the rest of the park underwent a restoration of its wetlands and natural grassland. In the garden inside the park, you can find a large-scale habitat for prickly water lilies, which are part of the Endangered Species Level II classification. Many interesting festivals, such as the Nakdong Riverside Cherry Blossom Festival, the Busan Nakdong River Canola Flower Festival, and the [2] Daejeo Tomato Festival are held around this park every year.Ilgwang Beach : Ilgwang Beach is long white-sand beach, extending for about 1.8 kilometers, amd is particularly popular among families with young children as a vacation spot because the waters are quite shallow. Every summer, the Gaetmaeul Outdoor Drama Festival is held on this beach. The festival features diverse performances of traditional Korean music, outdoor dramas, mime shows, and other performance art forms.

Kiswire Museum(F-1963) : Kiswire Museum(F-1963) offers its visitors a chance to better understand wire, a key material for industrial development, and central to Kiswire’s corporate philosophy. The museum won The 2014 Busan Architecture Award for its aesthetic design. In addition, the roof of the museum is supported by only 38 cables without any pillars or beams, which makes the museum quite unique. In addition, the museum features special art pieces, including artwork made with wires.

Jeonpo Café Street : Seomyeon, Busan is busiest area with a variety of entertainment, restaurants and shops. Across Seomyeon 1 Beonga (Seomyeon 1st Street), the busiest street in the area, there is a quiet and tranquil street with about 30 unique cafés. Several years ago, the Bujeon-dong and Jeonpo-dong areas were full of hardware stores and machine part suppliers. However, since 2010 the area has been transformed into a trendy street full of cozy and hip cafés. Most of the coffee shops are small cafés ran by individual owners. Such cafés offer the chance to enjoy a variety of coffee beans and flavors.

Temples, religious and historical sites[edit]

• Beomeosa Temple
• Busanjinjiseong Fortress (or Jaseongdae)
• Cheonseongjinseong Fortress
• Chungnyeolsa Shrine
• Dongnaeeupseong Fortress
• Dongnae Hyanggyo Confucian shrine-school
• Dongnaebu Dongheon
• Dongsam-dong Shell Mound
• Fortress site of Jwasuyeong
• Geumjeongsanseong Fortress
• Haedong Yonggung Temple
• Janggwancheong
• Gungwancheong
• Songgongdan Altar
• Jeongongdan Altar
• Samgwangsa Temple
• Tumuli in Bokcheon-dong, Dongnae
• United Nations Memorial Cemetery^[34]
• Waeseong in Jukseong-ri, Gijang
• Yeongdo Bridge
• Yeonggadae Pavilion
• Yungongdan Altar

Arts[edit]

Busan hosts the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)—one of the most popular international film festivals in Asia—at the Busan Cinema Center every fall. It is also the home of the Busan Biennale, an international contemporary art biennale which takes place every two years.

The city also hosts the One Asia Festival, the largest K-pop festival in Korea beginning in 2016, positioning itself as the center of K-pop culture.^[35]

In 2012, German artist Hendrik Beikirch painted Asia’s tallest mural entitled“Fisherman Portrait” on a building near Millak Raw Fish Town.^[36]

Busan is home to 80 performance facilities consisting of 30 public ones, including the Busan Cultural Center, Busan Citizens’Hall, Busan Cinema Center, and Busan National Gugak Center. There are 40 private facilities, such as KBS Art Hall Busan, Sohyang Art Center, MBC Samjoo Art Hall, Kyungsung University Concert Hall, and Shinsegae Department Store Culture Hall.

Major Public performance facilities[edit]

No.	Facility	Address	Number of Seats
1	Busan Cultural Center	1, UN pyeonghwa-ro 76 beon-gil, Nam-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea	2,389
2	Busan Citizens’ Hall	Busan Citizen Hall, [48742] 16 133-beon-gil Jaseong-ro Dong-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea	1,941
3	BEXCO Auditorium	55 APEC-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea	2,644
4	Busan National Gugak Center	2, Gugak-ro (Yeonji-dong), Busanjin-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea	974
5	Busan Cinema Center Haneulyeon Theatre	120, Suyeonggangbyeon-daero, Haeundae-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea	841
6	Korea National Maritime Museum	45 Haeyang-ro 301beon-gil, Yeongdo-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea	311

Museums[edit]

Museums in Busan include:

• Busan Museum
• Busan Museum of Art
• Museum of Contemporary Art Busan^[37]
• Busan Museum of Movies^[38]
• Busan Modern History Museum
• Busan Marine Natural History Museum
• Korea National Maritime Museum
• Bokcheon Museum
• Kiswire Museum^[39]
• Provisional Capital Memorial Hall
• Trickeye Museum
• United Nations Peace Memorial Hall
• 40-step Stairway Culture Center
• Dongnae Eupseong History Museum

Traditional cuisine[edit]

Busan was once a center of military affairs in the southern region of the peninsula and therefore was an important site for diplomatic relationships with Japan; high-ranking officers and officials from the court frequently visited the city. Special foods were prepared for the officers such as Dongnae pajeon (동래파전), a variant of pajeon (Korean savory pancakes), made with whole scallions, sliced chili peppers, and various kinds of seafood in a thick batter of wheat flour, glutinous rice flour, eggs, salt and water.^[40]

During the Korean War, Busan was the biggest refugee destination on the peninsula; people from all regions of Korea went there. Some of these refugees stayed and adapted and adjusted the recipes of their local specialties. One of these foods is milmyeon (밀면) (lit. 'wheat noodle') a version of naengmyeon, cold buckwheat noodle soup, but using wheat flour instead. (Naemyeon is originally a specialty food of Hamhung and Pyongyang, now part of North Korea.^[41][42]) Dwaeji gukbap (돼지국밥) (lit. 'pork/pig soup rice') is also a result of Korean War. It is a hearty pork soup and is becoming more popular nationwide.^[43] Pork trotters served with vegetables such as cucumbers, onions, and mustard sauce is popular and is called Nangchae-Jokbal.^[44]

We can find a trace of authentic Busan in the popular fishcakes at the Bupyeong Market. Fishcakes originally came from the Japanese food "Kamaboko". It is made of crushed and fried fish fillets. Busan's fishcakes have gained their reputation from their special taste. More and more people are taking food trips to Busan to taste the special fishcakes. Around 1 million travelers honor this food's history by visiting one of the famous local fishcake stores.

The history of Choryang Galbi (pork ribs) goes back to the Korean War. Back then, ordinary people gathered in the town of Choryang to have relatively cheap, but nutrient-packed pork ribs to decompress from a long day of work. Still today, around 20 galbi restaurants uphold its history and Choryang has become famous for its galbi street.

If you visit Busan, you must try the raw sliced mackerel. Around 80% of all mackerel in Korea are caught in Busan. Mackerel can easily spoil, so it is best to eat raw right after it is caught. Visitors should try the food and enjoy its fresh and delicious taste.

Hot spring resorts and spas[edit]

Busan has the largest hot spring resorts and facilities in Korea. Busan’s Oncheon is the oldest hot spring spa in Korea. It even has its own unique history, where long ago an old man with aching legs was said to have seen an injured crane come to the hot spring and bath in it. After bathing in its waters, the crane became completely cured and happily flew away. Upon seeing this, the old man also bathed his aching legs in the water and was cured. Among the hot spas, ‘Dongnae Oncheon’ and ‘Haeundae Oncheon’ are the most famous ones. Today, the spas have an outdoor bath and sauna.

• Spa Land (Haeundae-Gu)
• HurShimChung Hot Spring Resorts and Spa Town (Dongnae-Gu)
• Haeundae Hot Spring Resorts and Spa Towns (Haeundae-Gu)
• Dongnae Hot Spring Resorts and Spa Towns (Dongnae-Gu)
• Gwangalli Spa Towns (Suyeong-Gu)

Religions[edit]

According to the census of 2007, of the people of Busan 41.9% follow Buddhism and 16.6% follow Christianity (12.1% Protestantism and 4.5% Catholicism), 39.9% of the population is mostly not religious or follow other indigenous religions.

Communications[edit]

Station or Newspaper	Types
Busan KBS	TV, Radio
Busan MBC	TV, Radio
KNN	TV, Radio
Busan CBS	Radio
Busan BBS	Radio
Busan eFM	Radio (English, Chinese)
Busan PBC	Radio
Busan Ilbo	Daily Newspaper
Kookje Shinmun	Daily Newspaper

Sports[edit]

The city planned to bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics, but withdrew after the 2018 Winter Olympics were awarded to Pyeongchang, also located in South Korea. The 2020 Summer Olympics were eventually awarded to Tokyo.^[46] It is currently considering bidding to host the 2032 Summer Olympics.^[47]

Sports teams and facilities

Club	League	Stadium	Stadium Capacity	Sports Type
Lotte Giants	KBO League	Sajik Baseball Stadium	28,500	Baseball
Busan IPark	K League 2	Busan Asiad Stadium	53,864	Football
Busan KT Sonicboom	KBL	Sajik Arena	14,099	Basketball

Baseball[edit]

Since 1982, the city has been home to the Lotte Giants, who play in the Korea Professional Baseball league. In Korea, Busan is known as the capital of baseball and has a reputation for very enthusiastic baseball fans.^[48] For the first few years, the Lotte Giants utilized Gudeok Baseball Stadium as their home. In the mid-1980s, they moved to Sajik Baseball Stadium, which was built as part of a sports complex for the 1986 Asian Games.

Football[edit]

The city is home to a K League football club, the Busan IPark. The club was formerly known as the Buan Daewoo Royals and was a successful team during the 1990s. Busan is also home to a National League football club, the Busan Transportation Corporation.

Basketball[edit]

Busan also has a Korean Basketball League team, the Busan KT Sonicboom that plays in Sajik Arena.

Thoroughbred racing[edit]

Thoroughbred horse racing is held at Busan-Gyeongnam Horse Racing Park every weekend.

Bicycle racing[edit]

Bicycle Racing is held at "Busan Cydrome," the velodrome in Geumjeong Sports Park, every weekend.

The 2002 FIFA World Cup[edit]

The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the world’s 17th FIFA World Cup, held from the 31st of May to the 30th of June 2002 at locations in South Korea and Japan. Busan hosted matches between France and Uruguay, and ROK against Poland at the Busan Asiad Stadium.

The 2002 Asian Games[edit]

The 2002 Asian Games were held in Busan, ROK, from September 29 to October 14, 2002. 9,900 athletes from 44 countries competed in 38 sports. Many public sports complexes, university gymnasiums, including Busan Asiad Stadium were used for the games’ venues. The mascot was a seagull, the city bird of Busan named, “Duria”. East Timor took part in the games for the first time. As well, North Korea also participated for the first time in an international event held in South Korea.

The 2020 World Team Table Tennis Championships[edit]

The 2020 World Team Table Tennis Championships, the ITTF announced on the 1st of May in Halmstad, Sweden that Busan won the bid to host the 2020 World Team Table Tennis Championships. The Championships will be held in March 2020 at BEXCO, with 2,000 athletes from 130 countries participating.

Festivals and events[edit]

Busan celebrates festivals all year round.

Month	Annual Festivals and Events
January	Busan Sunrise Festival,[49] Polar Bear Swimming Contest[50]
April	Gwangalli Fishery(Eobang) Festival, Busan Nakdong River Yuchae (Canola) Flower Festival[51]
May	Busan Motor Show,[52] Busan Port Festival,[53] Busan Contents Market, Busan International Short Film Festival,[54] Joseon Tongsinsa Korea-Janpan Exchange Festival,[55] Busan International Performing Arts Festival[56]
June	Haeundae Sand Festival, Busan International Dance Festival, Art Busan[57]
July	Busan International Kids and Youth Film Festival,[58]
August	Busan Sea Festival,[59] Busan International Rock Festival,[60] Busan International Magic Festival, Busan International Advertising Festival, Busan International Comedy Festival
September	Busan Biennale, Busan Sea Art Festival, Busan Maru International Music Festival
October	Busan International Film Festival, Busan International Fireworks Festival, Busan Jagalchi Festival, Asia Song Festival,[61] Busan One-Asia Festival, The Dongnae-eupseong History Festival
November	G-Star-Global Game Exhibition, Busan Choral Festival & Competition
December	Busan Christmas Tree Festival

Medical facilities[edit]

Busan has many hospitals and clinics. Many cosmetic surgery, dermatological, ophthalmic, dental clinics are concentrated in Seomyeon medical street.

Hospitals in Busan include Pusan National University Hospital with 1,300 beds in Ami-dong, Kosin University Gospel Hospital with 957 beds in Amnam-dong, Dongnam Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences specializing in cancer treatment with 298 beds, Dong-A University Hospital with 999 beds in Dongdaesin-dong, Dong-eui Medical Center with 468 beds offering cooperative western and oriental medicine treatment in Yangjeong-dong, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital with 837 beds in Gaegeum-dong, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital with 896 beds in Jwa-dong, Busan Medical Center with 555 beds in Sajik-dong and Busan Veterans Hospital in Jurye-dong, Sasang-gu. In particular, Seomyeon Medical Street, which first started construction in the Bujeon-dong area beginning in 1990, has formed a cluster of more than 230 medical institutions, full of expertise, that is difficult to find in other parts of the world. The “Seomyeon Medical Street Festival” has taken place annually since 2012.

Major medical centers[edit]

Name of Hospital	Number of beds
Pusan National University Hospital at Yangsan	1720[62]
Pusan National University Hospital at Busan	1180[63]
Inje University Paik Hospital at Haeundae	1004[64]
Dong-A University Hospital	920[65]
Kosin University Hospital	912[66]
Busan St. Mary's Medical Center	716[67]
Dong-eui Medical Center	640[68]
Busan Baptist Hospital	608[69]
Busan Medical Center	591[70]
Maryknoll Medical Center	501[71]
Inje University Paik Hospital at Busan	898[72]
Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital	380
Dongnam Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences Cancer Center	304[73]

Transportation[edit]

Bus[edit]

Major express bus lines link Busan with other cities in Korea at two primary bus terminals, Nopodong Bus Terminal (at the northern terminus of Subway Line 1) and Seobu Bus Terminal at Sasang Station on Subway Line 2.

134 routes of urban buses service every part of Busan Metropolitan City. (Busan Urban Bus)

City buses[edit]

City buses operate a total of 160 routes. There are express buses connecting major areas quickly through tunnels and overpasses and general city buses which make stops at each bus stop. There are also airport buses connecting the Gimhae International Airport and the downtown area. Some of the city buses of Busan’s adjacent cities including Yangsan, Changwon, Gimhae and Ulsan also offer service to Busan.

Gimhae Airport Limousine Bus[edit]

Gimhae Airport Limousine Bus is one of the fastest buses connecting Gimhae International Airport and the downtown area. As of 2012, three routes are operated by Taeyoung Airport Limousine Corp.

- Nampo-dong: Gimhae International Airport ↔ Seomyeon, Busanjin Station, Busan Station, Nampo-dong ↔ Chungmu-dong (Seo-gu Office)

- Haeundae No.1: Gimhae International Airport ↔ Namcheon-dong, BEXCO, Dongbaekseom (Westin Chosun Busan), Haeundae ↔ New City (Jangsan Station)

- Haeundae No.2: Gimhae International Airport ↔ Namcheon-dong, Gwangan Bridge, Haeundae ↔ New Town (Jangsan Station) Express Bus

Intercity buses[edit]

Intercity buses to east Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Gangwon and Gyeonggi Provinces are available at the Busan Central Bus Terminal. Buses offering service to West Gyeongnam and Jeolla Province depart from the Busan West Bus Terminal located in Sasang. Buses to the east Gyeongnam area, including Ulsan, Gimhae and Changwon, the Seoul Metropolitan Area, including Osan, Suwon, Ansan, Bucheon and Dong Seoul and the southern Gangwon area, including Donghae and Gangneung are available at the Haeundae Intercity Bus Terminal. The Dongnae Intercity Bus Terminal has buses to the central and southern Gyeongnam area, including Changwon, Gimhae, Gosung, Tongyoung, and Geoje, as well as to Suncheon, Yeosu and Gwangyang.

Sea[edit]

Ferries leaving from the International Ferry Terminal at Busan Port Pier 3,4 connect Busan to the Japanese ports of Izuhara and Hitakatsu on Tsushima Island, as well as the cities of Shimonoseki, Fukuoka, and Osaka on Japan's mainland.^[74]

• PanStar^[75] operates the PanStar Ferry between Busan and Osaka.
• The Seaflower 2, the ferry to Tsushima operated by Dae-a Express Shipping,^[76] carries passengers only between Busan and Hitakatsu in 1 hour 40 minutes and between Busan and Izuhara in 2 hours 40 minutes.
  

  Busan Port International Passenger Terminal
• The Seonghee, operated by Pukwan Ferry,^[77] links Busan to Shimonoseki.
• One of the ferries to Fukuoka is the Camellia, operated by Camellia Line.^[78] The Camellia makes the trip to Fukuoka overnight in 7 hours 30 minutes, and trip back in the afternoon in 5 hours 30 minutes.
• The other ferry service to Fukuoka is assumed by the Beetles and the Kobees, 2 fleets of high-speed hydrofoils operated by Miraejet.^[79] About five departures from each city are scheduled every day. By hydrofoil it only takes 2 hours 55 minutes to cross the Korea Strait to Fukuoka. The Beetles are owned by JR Kyushu.

This is administered by the Busan Port Authority.

National Railway[edit]

Busan lies on a number of rail lines, of which the most important is the Gyeongbu Line which connects it to other major cities such as Seoul, Daejeon, and Daegu. All classes of trains run along the Gyeongbu Line, including the superhigh speed KTX trains which provide frequent services to Seoul in approximately 150 minutes.^[80] The Gyeongbu Line terminates at Busan Station. Other lines include the Donghae Nambu Line which connects Ulsan, Pohang and Gyeongju.

SRT first launched in 2016 and runs along the Gyeongbu and Honam high-speed railways. SRT offers a new gateway connecting the Gangnam area of Seoul with major cities. It is directly connected to Subway Line 3 and the Bundang Line, enhancing accessibility to Subway Line 2, 5 and 8, as well as the Shinbundang Line, and it is also located near the Dongbu Expressway that connects to other major highways.

Metro[edit]

There are six subway lines as of January 2017. The transit stations are as follows: Seomyeon Station (Line 1, 2) / Yeonsan Station (Line 1, 3) / Suyeong Station (Lines 2, 3) / Deokcheon Station (Lines 2, 3) / Minam Station (Lines 3, 4) / Dongnae Station (Lines 1, 4) / Sasang Station (Line 2, Busan - Gimhae Light Rail Transit) / Daejeo Station (Line 3, Busan - Gimhae Light Rail Transit) / Busan National University of Education Station (Line 1, Donghae Line) / Bexco Station (Line 2, Donghae Line) / Geoje Station (Line 3, Donghae Line)

Air[edit]

Busan is served by Gimhae International Airport in Gangseo-gu. Gimhae International Airport is connected by Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit

Domestic flights[edit]

The Gimhae International Airport Domestic Terminal in Gangseo-gu provides flights to Gimpo, Jeju and Yangyang.

International Flights[edit]

The Gimhae International Airport in Gangseo-gu operates routes to Japan (Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, Sapporo and Kitakyushu), China (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, Qingdao, Weihai and Yantai), Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan (Taipei), Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar), Germany (Munich), Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and Da Nang), Thailand (Bangkok), the Philippines (Manila, Cebu and Calibo), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu), Cambodia (Siem Reap), Laos (Vientiane) and Guam. Flights to Narita International Airport in Tokyo make easy transfer to America possible.

International relations[edit]

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Twin towns and sister cities[edit]

Busan shares the title of sister city with several coastal cities or provinces around the world.^[81]

– Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1966) – Los Angeles, U.S. (1967) – Shimonoseki, Japan (1976) – Barcelona, Spain (1983)[82] – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1985) – Vladivostok, Russia (1992) – Shanghai, People's Republic of China (1993) – Surabaya, Republic of Indonesia (1994) – State of Victoria, Australia (1994) – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (1995)[83] – Tijuana, Mexico (1995) – Auckland, New Zealand (1996) – Valparaíso, Chile (1999) – Montreal, Canada (2000) – Western Cape, South African province (2000) – Istanbul, Turkey (2002) – Dubai, United Arab Emirates (2006) – Fukuoka, Japan (2007) – Chicago, U.S. (2007) – Saint Petersburg, Russia (2008) – Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2009) – Mumbai, India (2009) – Thessaloniki, Greece (2010) – Casablanca, Morocco (2011) – Cebu City, Philippines (2011) – Yangon, Myanmar (2013)

Friendship cities[edit]

As of May 2018, Busan has 10 friendship cities in six countries.

• Shenzhen, China (2007)
• Tianjin, China (2007)
• Osaka, Japan (2008)
• Chongqing, China (2010)
• Beijing, China (2013)
• Nagasaki, Japan (2014)
• BangKok, Thailand (2018)
• Bandar Abbas, Iran (2018)
• Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (2018)
• Panama City, USA (2018)

Sister ports[edit]

The Port of Busan also has 6 sister ports (listed in order of dates).^[84]

• – Port of Southampton, United Kingdom (1978)
• – Port of Miami, U.S. (1981)
• – Port of Osaka, Japan (1985)^[85]
• – Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands (1985)
• – Port of New York & New Jersey, U.S. (1988)
• – Port of Shanghai, China (1994)

See also[edit]

• 40–step stairway
• Busan International Film Festival
• Busan–Geoje Fixed Link
• Centum City, urban complex
• Gwangan Bridge
• Index of Korea-related articles
• List of cities in South Korea
• List of East Asian ports
• Lotte Giants, local baseball team
• Pusan Newport International Terminal

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

• "Corea", Encyclopædia Britannica, 9th ed., Vol. VI, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1878, pp. 390–394 .
• Overkamp, Sven (2009), "Selected Materials on Korean from the Siebold Archive in Bochum", BJOAF (PDF), Vol. 33, pp. 187–216 .

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Busan.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Busan.

• Busan Metropolitan Government
• All About Busan – The Official Korea Tourism Guide Site