most populous city
The United Nations uses three definitions for what constitutes a city, as not all cities in all jurisdictions are classified using the same criteria. Cities may be defined as the city proper, cities proper, the extent of their urban area, or th ...
after Seoul, with a population of over 3.4 million inhabitants. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, with its port being Korea's busiest and the sixth-busiest in the world. The surrounding "Southeastern Maritime Industrial Region" (including Ulsan,
South Gyeongsang
South Gyeongsang Province ( ko, 경상남도, translit=Gyeongsangnam-do, ) is a province in the southeast of South Korea. The provincial capital is at Changwon. It is adjacent to the major metropolitan center and port of Busan. The UNESCO World ...
,
Daegu
Daegu (, , literally 'large hill', 대구광역시), formerly spelled Taegu and officially known as the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea.
It is the third-largest urban agglomeration in South Korea after Seoul and Busan; it is ...
, and some of North Gyeongsang and South Jeolla) is South Korea's largest industrial area. The large volumes of port traffic and urban population in excess of 1 million make Busan a Large-Port metropolis using the Southampton System of Port-City classification .
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, the Southeastern Maritime Industrial Region, has a population of approximately 8 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
The 2002 Asian Games ( ko, 2002년 아시아 경기대회/2002년 아시안 게임, Icheoni-nyeon Asia gyeonggi daehoe/Icheoni-nyeon Asian Geim), officially known as the XIV Asian Games ( ko, 제14회 아시아 경기대회/제14회 아시안 ...
Centum City
Centum City () is a major multi-project urban development part of Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea. It is also one of CBDs in Busan Metropolitan City. This site is at the westernmost area of Haeundae-gu in U-1-dong, Jae-song-dong. The site was orig ...
The name "Busan" is the Revised Romanization of the city's Korean name since the late 15th century. It officially replaced the earlier McCune-Reischauer romanization ''Pusan'' in 2000. During the Japanese period it was spelled "Fuzan".
The name (now written using the
Korean alphabet
The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, . Hangul may also be written as following South Korea's standard Romanization. ( ) in South Korea and Chosŏn'gŭl in North Korea, is the modern official writing system for the Korean language. The let ...
) is Sino-Korean for "Cauldron Mountain", believed to be a former name of Mt Hwangryeong ''Hwangryeong-san'') west of the city center. The area's ancient state MtGeochil (, , ''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
MtGeochil (''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
Yeonje District is a ''Subdivisions of South Korea, gu'' in central Busan, South Korea. It has an area of 12.08 km², and a population of about 220,000. Yeonje-gu was created in March 1995 following its separation from Dongnae-gu. Its name was ...
. 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. 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
, officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakur ...
in Japan were established in 1607, and Busan was permitted to be reconstructed. The Japanese settlement, Waegwan (), 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.
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
Daegu (, , literally 'large hill', 대구광역시), formerly spelled Taegu and officially known as the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea.
It is the third-largest urban agglomeration in South Korea after Seoul and Busan; it is ...
. As a result, the cities became
refugee camp
A refugee camp is a temporary settlement built to receive refugees and people in refugee-like situations. Refugee camps usually accommodate displaced people who have fled their home country, but camps are also made for internally displaced peo ...
sites for Koreans during the war. According to the Korea Times, around 500,000 refugees were located in Busan in early 1951.
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
South Gyeongsang Province ( ko, 경상남도, translit=Gyeongsangnam-do, ) is a province in the southeast of South Korea. The provincial capital is at Changwon. It is adjacent to the major metropolitan center and port of Busan. The UNESCO World H ...
to become a Directly Governed City (''Jikhalsi''). In 1983, the provincial capital of Gyeongsangnam-do was moved from Busan to Changwon.
Geography
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. The distance from Busan to Seoul is about . 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
Geumjeongsan (or Geumjeong Mountain) is a mountain in the city of Busan in South Korea. It covers a large surface that extends into Dongnae-gu in the south, Buk-gu in the west, Geumjeong-gu in the east, and the city of Yangsan in the north. Its ...
, 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 Province
Gyeongsang ( ko, 경상도, ''Gyeongsang-do''; ) was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon dynasty. Gyeongsang was located in the southeast of Korea.
The provincial capital was Daegu. The region was the birthplace of the Kingd ...
s and 3 metropolitan cities of Busan,
Daegu
Daegu (, , literally 'large hill', 대구광역시), formerly spelled Taegu and officially known as the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea.
It is the third-largest urban agglomeration in South Korea after Seoul and Busan; it is ...
and Ulsan. Ulsan lies northeast of Busan. Combined population exceeds 13 million.
The closest overseas area to Busan is Tsushima,
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
, with a distance of about 49.5 km. The closest Japanese mainland area to Busan is Fukuoka, and the distance from Busan to Fukuoka is about 180 km (112 miles). Busan and Fukuoka are sister cities.
Climate
Located on the southeasternmost tip of the Korean Peninsula, Busan has a cooler version of a
humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...
( Köppen: ''Cfa/Cwa''). Extremely high or low temperatures are rare. The highest temperature ever recorded is on 14 August 2016 while the lowest temperature ever recorded is on 13 January 1915. 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
Typhoon Maemi () or (), known in the Philippines as Typhoon Pogi, was the most powerful typhoon to strike South Korea since record-keeping began in the country in 1904. Maemi formed on September 4, 2003 from a disturbance in a monsoon troug ...
, also caused damage to ships and buildings and resulted in over 48 fatalities.
Typhoon Hinnamnor
Typhoon Hinnamnor, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Henry, was a very large and powerful tropical cyclone that impacted Japan and South Korea. The eleventh named storm, fourth typhoon, and the first super typhoon of the 2022 Pacific t ...
on September 6, 2022, caused destruction in Busan as a category 2, produced high waves, destructive winds and flooding. Busan is the most prone city in South Korea to typhoons and other natural disasters.
October and November are generally the most comfortable, with clear skies and pleasant temperatures. Winters are cool 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 snow compared to other regions of Korea due to its location. Snow falls on an average of only about 4 days per year. 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.
Administrative divisions
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).
Economy
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. In 2017, the maritime city recorded a
GRDP
Gross regional domestic product (GRDP), gross domestic product of region (GDPR), or gross state product (GSP) is a statistic that measures the size of a region's economy. It is the aggregate of gross value added (GVA) of all resident producer unit ...
of US$758.4 billion with a per capita GRDP of US$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 21.81 million TEU of container cargo volume in 2020. 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). The port is part of the
21st Century Maritime Silk Road
The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (Chinese: 21世纪海上丝绸之路), commonly just Maritime Silk Road (MSR), is the sea route part of the Belt and Road Initiative which is a Chinese strategic initiative to increase investment and foster col ...
that runs from the Chinese coast to Singapore, towards the southern tip of India to Mombasa, from there through the Red Sea via the
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal ( arz, قَنَاةُ ٱلسُّوَيْسِ, ') is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez and dividing Africa and Asia. The long canal is a popular ...
to the Mediterranean, there to the Upper Adriatic region to the northern Italian hub of Trieste with its connections to Central Europe and the North Sea.
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
The Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) is a think tank and research center developing South Korean policies on marine affairs and fisheries, operated by the South Korean government through the ''Office of Government Policy Coordination''. KMI was esta ...
(KMI), the
Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology
The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) is a private Korean oceanography research organization in Busan, South Korea. Formerly known as the Korean Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI), it started functioning with the ...
(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
The FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations is a non-governmental organization representing freight forwarders worldwide. According to the FIATA Annual Report 2021, FIATA counted 109 Associations Members representing ...
(FIATA) World Congress is scheduled to be hosted in Busan in 2020. (Busan New Port)
The city is also known for its global
MICE
A mouse ( : mice) is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (''Mus musculus' ...
(Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry. The city is ranked 5th in Asia and 10th in the world in terms of the number of international conferences hosted in the city. The city's convention and exhibition zone has excellent conditions and infrastructure to host large-scale international events, which includes BEXCO in
Centum City
Centum City () is a major multi-project urban development part of Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea. It is also one of CBDs in Busan Metropolitan City. This site is at the westernmost area of Haeundae-gu in U-1-dong, Jae-song-dong. The site was orig ...
, Nurimaru APEC House, and hotels nearby natural environments. Major international conferences in Busan include the 2005
APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC ) is an inter-governmental forum for 21 member economies in the Pacific Rim that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
,
ASEAN–Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit
The ASEAN Summit is a biannual meeting held by the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in relation to economic, political, security, and socio-cultural development of Southeast Asian countries. The league of ASEAN is curre ...
2014, and 2018
African Development Bank Group
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) or (BAD) is a multilateral development finance institution headquartered in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, since September 2014. The AfDB is a financial provider to African governments and private companies in ...
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
Centum City () is a major multi-project urban development part of Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea. It is also one of CBDs in Busan Metropolitan City. This site is at the westernmost area of Haeundae-gu in U-1-dong, Jae-song-dong. The site was orig ...
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. Directly adjacent to Seomyeon is Bujeon Market, the largest traditional market in the city.
The Gwangbok-dong,
Nampo-dong
Nampo-dong is a central commercial and shopping area in Busan, South Korea. Nampo-dong is in Jung District ("Central District") in the southern center of the city, bordering the city river on the north side. Served by two bridges connecting Yeong ...
, 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.
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
Lotte Department Store () is a Korean retail company established in 1979, and headquartered in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Lotte Department Store offers retail consumer goods and services and is one out of 8 business units of Lotte ...
(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
Homeplus
Homeplus () is a Korean discount store retail chain running about 140 branches with 25,000 employees throughout South Korea. Homeplus is the second largest retailer in South Korea, behind Shinsegae Group's e-mart chain.
Homeplus operates its ...
, 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.
Education
Universities with graduate schools
*
Busan University of Foreign Studies
Busan University of Foreign Studies (), often shortened to 부산외대 and BUFS, romanized as Pusan University of Foreign Studies before 2011, is a private university in Busan, South Korea, which specializes in foreign languages.
History
Busan ...
Busan National University of Education
The Busan National University of Education is a government-supported institution which provides training for future public-school teachers in South Korea. The campus is located in the Yeonje-gu district of Busan Metropolitan City. The universi ...
(BNUE)
*
Catholic University of Pusan
The Catholic University of Pusan is situated in the southeastern South Korean port city of Busan. The current president is Son Sam-seok. The university is traditionally focused on nursing and health sciences, but in addition to these fields it ...
Dong-eui University
Dong-Eui University is one of the leading private universities in Busan, a metropolitan city on the southeastern coast of South Korea. The university has 10 colleges, 116 master and doctoral courses in six graduate schools, with 22,992 students a ...
Inje University
Inje University (인제대학교) is a private university founded in 1932, located in Gimhae, South Korea. As of Aug, 2009, it had 874 faculty members, 230 staff members, 14,373 Undergraduate students and 1,458 Graduate students. The University ha ...
– Busan Campus
*
Kosin University
Kosin University is a private Christian university in Busan, South Korea. The name "Kosin" is derived from the name of a denomination of Presbyterian churches in Korea that had organized actions against the Empire of Japan. This university was ...
Pusan National University
Pusan National University (PNU), also called Busan National University, is one of ten Flagship Korean National Universities in South Korea and second highest public universities in South Korea.
Located mainly in Busan (or Pusan), the universi ...
(PNU)
*
Silla University
Silla University () is a private university located in the second largest city of Busan, South Korea. To encourage international careers, collaborations and exchanges, Silla University maintains strong international links with 175 universities in 2 ...
Busan Arts College
Busan Arts College () provides training in a range of fine and applied arts. The campus is located in the Nam-gu district of Busan metropolitan city, in southeastern South Korea. Under government regulations, the school has a maximum enrollment ...
*
Busan Institute of Science and Technology
Busan Institute of Science and Technology is a private college located in Buk District, Busan, South Korea. It was called Busan College of Information Technology until February 2012.
History
Founded in 1976 at Uam-dong, Nam-gu the school w ...
(BIST)
*
Busan Kyungsang College
Busan Kyungsang College is a college in the Yeonje-gu district of Busan Metropolitan City, in southeastern South Korea. It has a legal maximum enrollment of 3,700 students.
Academic departments
The college offers training in technical and busine ...
*
Busan Polytechnic College
Busan Polytechnic College, formerly Busan IT Polytechnic College, is a private two-year technical college in southeastern South Korea. The campus is situated in the Buk-gu district of Busan Metropolitan City. The school's current president is ...
*
Daedong College
Daedong College is a private technical college in Busan, the second-largest city in South Korea. Its campus lies in the district of Geumjeong-gu. About 50 instructors are employed. The current president is Kim Gyeong-hui (김경희).
Academic ...
Dongju College
Dongju College is a private technical college in Busan, South Korea. About 110 instructors are employed.
Academics
Dongju College offers instruction in the fields of health and social welfare, hotel and tourism management, early childhood ed ...
*
Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology
The Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology, or KIMFT, is a maritime education and research institute operated by the government of South Korea. It is based in Yeongdang-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, with an auxiliary campus on Yeongdo is ...
Busan Foreign School
Busan Foreign School (BFS) is an international school located Busan, South Korea, with an American style educational philosophy and curriculum. It has been fully CCP accredited (Pre-K–12th grade) since 1998.
Busan Foreign School opened in Octobe ...
(Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade)
*
*International School of Busa ( Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade)
*Overseas Chinese Elementary School Busan (; )
*
Overseas Chinese High School, Busan
Overseas Chinese High School, Busan (; ko, 부산화교중고등학교) is a Republic of China (Taiwan)-oriented Chinese international school in Dong-gu, Busan
Busan (), officially known as is South Korea's most populous city after Seo ...
Culture and attractions
Busan not only features a variety of antique and souvenir shops, but also unique restaurants, attractions and accommodations.
Parks, beaches, and highlights
Nampo-dong
Nampo-dong is a central commercial and shopping area in Busan, South Korea. Nampo-dong is in Jung District ("Central District") in the southern center of the city, bordering the city river on the north side. Served by two bridges connecting Yeong ...
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. 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
Songdo Beach is a man-made beach in Busan, South Korea. It was created in 1913. The name "Songdo" (the Island of Pines) was given due to the thick pine forest covering the island.
Songdo Beach was the first beach in Korea, and was developed by ...
, which is south-central.
Haeundae Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Korea. The 2009 film '' Tidal Wave'' (2009) is about a tsunami hitting Busan at this beach.
Geumjeongsan
Geumjeongsan (or Geumjeong Mountain) is a mountain in the city of Busan in South Korea. It covers a large surface that extends into Dongnae-gu in the south, Buk-gu in the west, Geumjeong-gu in the east, and the city of Yangsan in the north. Its ...
to the west is a weekend hiking spot for Busan residents. To the north, the neighborhoods around
Pusan National University
Pusan National University (PNU), also called Busan National University, is one of ten Flagship Korean National Universities in South Korea and second highest public universities in South Korea.
Located mainly in Busan (or Pusan), the universi ...
(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
Beomeosa (Temple of the Nirvana Fish) is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism in Cheongnyong-dong, Geumjeong-gu, Busan, South Korea. Built on the slopes of Geumjeongsan, it is one of the country's best known urban temples.
Origi ...
, the city's main
Korean Buddhist
Korean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what its early practitioners saw as inconsistencies within the Mahayana Buddhist traditions that they received from foreign countries. To address this, the ...
temple.
Yongdusan Park occupies 69,000 square meters/ and is home to the Busan Tower, Yongdusan Art Gallery, and the
Busan Aquarium
Sea Life Busan Aquarium is an aquarium located in Haeundae Beach, South Korea.
Description
There are about 250 species and up to 35,000 marine animals on display. The main tank contains of water, and the animals can be viewed through acrylic win ...
, 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.
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.
Taejongdae
Taejongdae is a natural park of Busan, South Korea with magnificent cliffs facing the open sea on the southernmost tip of island of Yeongdo-gu. It is a representative visitor attraction of Busan that has dense evergreen trees and several faciliti ...
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
Haedong Yonggung Temple (Hangul: 해동 용궁사, Hanja :海東龍宮寺) is a Buddhist temple in Gijang-gun, Busan, South Korea. The temple was built in 1376 by the teacher known as Naong during the Goryeo Dynasty, and was originally know ...
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
Busan Citizens Park (formerly Camp Hialeah) is a former Imperial Japanese Army base and United States Army camp located in the Busanjin District of the city of Busan, South Korea. The Camp occupying of prime real estate was closed on 10 August 20 ...
(formerly Camp Hialeah) is a former Imperial Japanese Army base and United States Army camp located in the Busanjin District.
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 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 2013 film '' The Attorney'', the neighborhood was also featured in the 2012 film '' Nameless Gangster: Rules of the 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 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.
With a length of and a size of , 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 Daejeo Tomato Festival are held around this park every year.
Ilgwang Beach is a long white-sand beach, extending for about 1.8 kilometers, and 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 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 in
Seomyeon, Busan
Seomyeon (Hangeul: 서면 Hanja: 西面 lit. "West face/front") is the commercial center and transportation hub in Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea. Seomyeon is also the most crowded area in Busan, having an average floating population of 1,0 ...
is one of the busiest areas, 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 street full of 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.
Busan is planning to build the first floating city in the world. So called Oceanix City will be finished and ready for settlement by 2025.
Temples, religious and historical sites
*
Beomeosa
Beomeosa (Temple of the Nirvana Fish) is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism in Cheongnyong-dong, Geumjeong-gu, Busan, South Korea. Built on the slopes of Geumjeongsan, it is one of the country's best known urban temples.
Origi ...
Temple
*
Busanjinjiseong
The Branch Wall-fortress in Busanjin (), also known as Maruyama Castle (, ) and Konishi Castle (), is located at Beomil-dong, Dong-gu, Busan, South Korea. The existing wall-fortress remains were constructed by the Japanese military during ...
Fortress (or Jaseongdae)
*
Cheonseongjinseong
The Cheonseongjinseong is located on Gadeokdo Island, Gangseo-gu, Busan Metropolitan City, the Republic of Korea. Gadeokdo Island area was strategically important, being located at the end of the sea route from Tsushima Islands of Japan to Busa ...
Dongnaeeupseong
The Dongnaeeupseong Fortress is located on Dongnae-gu, Busan Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea.
Traditionally in Korea, a wall-fortress was erected in each town to keep it safe from invasions. In this area called Dongnae, there were some ...
Dongsam-dong Shell Mound
Shell Mound in Dongsam-dong, Busan is located on the west coast of Yeong-do Island in Dongsam-dong, Yeongdo District, Busan, South Korea.
This archaeological site consists of a midden of shells of various mollusc taxa that were discarded in a r ...
Geumjeongsanseong
Geumjeongsanseong (literally Geungjeong Mountain Fortress or Geumjeong Fortress) is the largest mountain fortress in the Republic of Korea today. It is located on Geumjeongsan in the Busan Metropolitan City.
Following the Japanese invasi ...
Fortress
*
Haedong Yonggung Temple
Haedong Yonggung Temple (Hangul: 해동 용궁사, Hanja :海東龍宮寺) is a Buddhist temple in Gijang-gun, Busan, South Korea. The temple was built in 1376 by the teacher known as Naong during the Goryeo Dynasty, and was originally know ...
Tumuli in Bokcheon-dong, Dongnae
Tumuli in Bokcheon-dong, Dongnae is located in Dongnae-gu, Busan Metropolitan City, the Republic of Korea. A number of tombs are scattered about this hillside in Bokcheon-dong, which had been excavated partly by the Museum of Dong-A Universi ...
*
United Nations Memorial Cemetery
The United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea (UNMCK; ), located at Tanggok in the Nam District,; also seeKorea 1:50,000 Pusan Sheet 7019 III (1947) an City of Busan,As a transliteration from Korean, the city name 부산 () was typically spel ...
*
Waeseong in Jukseong-ri, Gijang
Waeseong in Jukseong-ri, Gijang (; ) is located in Gijang-gun, Busan, South Korea. It is a stone fortress built by the Japanese general, Kuroda Nagamasa who was defending the area against the Korean Joseon army in about June 1593, during the se ...
Busan Cinema Center
The Busan Cinema Center (also called "Dureraum", meaning enjoying seeing movies all together in Korean) is the official, exclusive venue of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), where its opening and closing ceremonies take place, located ...
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.
In 2012, German artist Hendrik Beikirch painted Asia's tallest mural entitled "Fisherman Portrait" on a building near Millak Raw Fish Town.
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.
Festivals
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 UNESCOMemory of the World Programme 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)
Major Public performance facilities
Museums
Museums in Busan include:
*
Busan Museum
Busan Museum is a museum located in Busan, South Korea, open since 1978.
History
The Busan Museum was designed to preserve the traditional culture of Busan through its collection of relics and historical art pieces. In 1995, it was founded as B ...
*
Busan Museum of Art
The Busan Museum of Art () is a museum in Busan, South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. ...
Busan Marine Natural History Museum
The Busan Marine Natural History Museum is a museum displaying exhibits on marine natural history of Busan and located in Dongnae-gu, Busan. It was founded in 1994. The purpose of the foundation is to preserve, to study and to exhibit geologica ...
*
Korea National Maritime Museum
The Korea National Maritime Museum (called 국립해양박물관 in Korean) is a Korean maritime museum and the third largest museum in the Republic of Korea.
*
Bokcheon Museum The Bokcheon Museum () is an archaeology museum in Busan, South Korea. Opened on October 5, 1996, the museum is dedicated to the history of the city of Busan from the Samhan
Samhan, or Three Han, is the collective name of the Byeonhan, Jinhan, ...
*Kiswire Museum
*
Provisional Capital Memorial Hall
The Provisional Capital Memorial Hall () is a museum in Busan, South Korea. The building was used by the President of South Korea, Syngman Rhee when Busan was the provisional capital of South Korea during the Korean War
, date = {{Ub ...
*
Trickeye Museum
Trickeye Museum Seoul is a gallery franchise with big wall paintings or installations, which contain AR (augmented reality) effect and/or 3D illusions. The company owner of the Trickeye Museum has developed special camera application in order to s ...
*
United Nations Peace Memorial Hall The United Nations Peace Memorial Hall (or UN Peace Memorial Hall) was established on November 11, 2014 to honor the noble sacrifices and spirit of the United Nations Forces dispatched during the Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 195 ...
*40-step Stairway Culture Center
*Dongnae Eupseong History Museum
Traditional cuisine
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
Batter or batters may refer to:
Common meanings
* Batter (cooking), thin dough that can be easily poured into a pan
* Batter (baseball), person whose turn it is to face the pitcher
* Batter (cricket), a player who is currently batting
* Batter ...
of wheat flour, glutinous rice flour, eggs, salt and water.
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'' () (lit. 'wheat noodle') a version of '' naengmyeon'', cold buckwheat noodle soup, but using wheat flour instead. (Naengmyeon is originally a specialty food of
Hamhung
Hamhŭng (''Hamhŭng-si''; ) is North Korea's second-largest List of cities in North Korea, city, and the capital of South Hamgyong, South Hamgyŏng Province. It has an estimated population of 768,551. Located in the southern part of the South Ham ...
and Pyongyang, now part of North Korea.) ''Dwaeji gukbap'' () (lit. 'pork/pig soup rice') is also a result of Korean War. It is a hearty pork soup and is becoming more popular nationwide. Pork trotters served with vegetables such as cucumbers, onions, and mustard sauce is popular and is called Nangchae-
Jokbal
''Jokbal''(족발) is a Korean dish consisting of pig's trotters cooked with soy sauce and spices.Jokbal at ...
.
One 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. Approximately one 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.
One of the most popular seafood dishes of Busan is the raw sliced mackerel. Around 80% of all mackerel in Korea are caught in Busan.
Hot spring resorts and spas
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)
2020 Summer Olympics
The , officially the and also known as , was an international multi-sport event held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some preliminary events that began on 21 July.
Tokyo was selected as the host city during the ...
Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang (; in full, ''Pyeongchang-gun'' ; ) is a county in the province of Gangwon-do, South Korea, located in the Taebaek Mountains region. It is home to several Buddhist temples, including Woljeongsa. It is about east southeast of Seou ...
, also located in South Korea. The 2020 Summer Olympics were eventually awarded to Tokyo. It considered bidding to host the
2032 Summer Olympics
The 2032 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXV Olympiad and also known as Brisbane 2032, will be an international multi-sport event
A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featu ...
.
Sports teams and facilities
Baseball
Since 1982, the city has been home to the Lotte Giants, who play in the
Korea Professional Baseball
The KBO League (), officially the Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League, is the highest level league of baseball in South Korea. The KBO League was founded with six franchises in 1982 and is the most popular sports league in South Korea. The Kia Tigers ar ...
league. In Korea, Busan is known as the capital of baseball and has a reputation for very enthusiastic baseball fans.사직구장 대대적 보수로 지정석만 2만1천석 . Sports Khan. Retrieved 2011-11-27 For the first few years, the Lotte Giants utilized
Gudeok Baseball Stadium
Gudeok Baseball Stadium was a baseball stadium in Busan, South Korea. It was the former home stadium of the Lotte Giants. It holds 11,724 people and was built in 1971.Sajik Baseball Stadium, which was built as part of a sports complex for the
1986 Asian Games
The 1986 Asian Games ( ko, 1986년 아시아 경기대회/1986년 아시안 게임, Cheon gubaek palsip-yuk nyeon Asia gyeonggi daehoe/Cheon gubaek palsip-yuk nyeon Asian Geim), officially known as the 10th Asian Games and the X Asiad ( ko, 제10 ...
.
Football
The city is home to a
K League
K League (Hangul: K리그) is South Korea's professional football league. It includes first division K League 1 and second division K League 2.
History
Until the 1970s, South Korean football operated two major football leagues, the National S ...
football club, the
Busan IPark
Busan IPark ( ko, 부산 아이파크) is a South Korean professional football club based in Busan that competes in K League 2, the second tier of the South Korean football pyramid. Its current home ground is Busan Gudeok Stadium.
The club was o ...
. The club was formerly known as the Busan Daewoo Royals and was a successful team during the 1990s. Busan is also home to a K3 League football club, the
Busan Transportation Corporation
The Busan Transportation Corporation (Hangul:부산교통공사, Hanja:釜山交通公社) was established on January 1, 2006, following the abolition of the Busan Urban Transit Authority, which was founded in 1987. It currently operates the Busa ...
.
Basketball
Until 2021, Busan was home of the
Korean Basketball League
The Korean Basketball League (KBL; ) is a professional men's basketball league in South Korea which was established in 1997. The league consists of ten teams and each team plays a total of 54 games (27 home and 27 away) in the regular season.
H ...
team
Busan KT Sonicboom
Suwon KT Sonicboom () is a professional basketball club based in Suwon, South Korea which plays in the Korean Basketball League. Their home games are played at the Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena. Founded in 1997, the team was initially based in Gwan ...
, which played at the
Sajik Arena
The Sajik Arena is an indoor sporting arena located in Busan, South Korea. The seating capacity of the arena is 14,099 and was built in 1985.Women's Korean Basketball League team
Busan BNK Sum
Busan BNK Sum ( ko, 부산 BNK 썸) is a South Korean professional basketball club playing in the Women's Korean Basketball League
The Women's Korean Basketball League (WKBL) (Hangul: 한국여자프로농구) is the premier professional women's ...
. They played at the Geumjeong Gymnasium from 2019 to 2021, and they currently play at the Sajik Arena.
2002 FIFA World Cup
The
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Korea Japan 2002, was the 17th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial Association football, football world championship for List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams organized by ...
was the world's 17th FIFA World Cup, held from 31 May to 30 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.
2002 Asian Games
The
2002 Asian Games
The 2002 Asian Games ( ko, 2002년 아시아 경기대회/2002년 아시안 게임, Icheoni-nyeon Asia gyeonggi daehoe/Icheoni-nyeon Asian Geim), officially known as the XIV Asian Games ( ko, 제14회 아시아 경기대회/제14회 아시안 ...
were held in Busan 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.
Festivals and events
Busan celebrates festivals all year round.
Medical facilities
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
Transportation
Bus
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 Busan Seobu Bus Terminal at Sasang Station on Subway Line 2. 134 routes of urban bus service reach every part of Busan Metropolitan City.
City buses
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
Yangsan () is a city in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, South Korea.
It borders Ulsan to the northeast, Gijang-gun and Geumjeong-gu in Busan to the southeast, Gimhae to the southwest, and Miryang to the northwest. City Hall is located in Nambu-dong, ...
,
Changwon
Changwon () is the capital city of Gyeongsangnam-do, on the southeast coast of South Korea. With a population of 1.07 million , Changwon is South Korea's ninth-most populous city.
A port city, Changwon is bordered by Masan Bay to the south ...
,
Gimhae
Gimhae () is a city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is the seat of the large Gimhae Kim clan, one of the largest Kim clans in Korea. The Gimhae Kims claim descent from the ancient royal house of Geumgwan Gaya, which was based in Gim ...
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
Gangwon
Gangwon or Kangwŏn may refer to:
* Gangwon Province (historical), the Goryeo, Joseon Dynasty and the Japanese Korean province
* Gangwon Province (South Korea), a province of South Korea, with its capital at Chuncheon. Before the division of Kore ...
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
Suwon (, ) is the capital and largest city of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea's most populous province which surrounds Seoul, the national capital. Suwon lies about south of Seoul. It is traditionally known as "The City of Filial Piety". With a populati ...
,
Ansan
Ansan (Hangeul: , ) is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It lies southwest of Seoul and is part of the Seoul National Capital Area. It is connected to Seoul by rail via Seoul Subway Line 4. It is situated on the Yellow Sea coast and so ...
,
Bucheon
Bucheon () is a administrative divisions of South Korea, city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Bucheon is located away from Seoul, of which it is a satellite town, satellite city. It is located between Incheon and Seoul.
Bucheon is the second ...
and Dong Seoul and the southern Gangwon area, including
Donghae Donghae may refer to:
* East Sea, the South Korean name of the Sea of Japan
** Donghae Expressway, the name of the expressway in South Korea
** Donghae Line, a railway line in Busan, South Korea
* Donghae City, in South Korea
** ''Donghae''-class ...
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
Suncheon () (''Suncheon-si'') is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. It is a scenic agricultural and industrial city of around 250,000 people near Suncheon Bay. It is located in the southeastern corner of Jeollanam-do, just over an hour ...
Ferries leaving from the ''International Ferry Terminal'' at
Busan Port
The Port of Busan () is the largest port in South Korea, located in the city of Busan, South Korea. Its location is known as Busan Harbor.
The port is ranked sixth in the world's container throughput and is the largest seaport in South Korea. Th ...
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.
*PanStar operates the ''PanStar Ferry'' between Busan and Osaka.
*The ''Seaflower 2'', the ferry to Tsushima operated by Dae-a Express Shipping, carries passengers only between Busan and Hitakatsu in 1 hour 40 minutes and between Busan and Izuhara in 2 hours 40 minutes.
*The ''Seonghee'', operated by Pukwan Ferry, links Busan to Shimonoseki.
*One of the ferries to Fukuoka is the ''Camellia'', operated by Camellia Line. 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 ''Beetle''s and the ''Kobee''s, 2 fleets of high-speed
hydrofoil
A hydrofoil is a lifting surface, or foil, that operates in water. They are similar in appearance and purpose to aerofoils used by aeroplanes. Boats that use hydrofoil technology are also simply termed hydrofoils. As a hydrofoil craft gains sp ...
s operated by Miraejet. 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 ''Beetle''s are owned by JR Kyushu.
National Railway
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
Daegu (, , literally 'large hill', 대구광역시), formerly spelled Taegu and officially known as the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea.
It is the third-largest urban agglomeration in South Korea after Seoul and Busan; it is ...
. All classes of trains run along the Gyeongbu Line, including the superhigh speed
KTX
Korea Train eXpress (), often known as KTX (), is South Korea's high-speed rail system, operated by Korail. Construction began on the high-speed line from Seoul to Busan in 1992. KTX services were launched on April 1, 2004.
From Seoul Station the ...
trains which provide frequent services to Seoul in approximately 150 minutes. The Gyeongbu Line terminates at Busan Station. Other lines include the
Donghae Nambu Line
The Donghae Nambu Line is a railway line connecting Busan to Pohang in South Korea. The line runs along South Korea's east coast. On December 30, 2016, it was merged into Donghae Line.
History
On October 31, 1918, an extension of the Daegu Line ...
Gyeongju
Gyeongju ( ko, 경주, ), historically known as ''Seorabeol'' ( ko, 서라벌, ), is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, ...
.
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
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
Suyeong Station is a station on the Busan Metro Line 2 and Line 3 located in U-dong, Suyeong District, Busan. The station is unrelated to the Centum station operated by Korail.
Gallery
File:4753 Photo 수영역.jpg, Station Sign (Line 2)
E ...
Minam Station
Minam Station () is an underground station of Busan Metro Line 3 and Line 4 located in Oncheon-dong, Dongnae District, Busan.
Station Layout
Gallery
File:Minam station sign 20180427 213005.jpg, Station Sign (Line 3)
File:401 Minam Station ...
Daejeo Station
Daejeo Station is a station of the Busan Metro Line 3 and BGLRT Line located in Daejeo-dong, Gangseo District, Busan, South Korea. It is a southern terminus of Line 3 at this station. During the construction, the Line 3 Station was known as ...
(Line 3, Busan - Gimhae Light Rail Transit) /
Busan National University of Education Station
Busan Nat'l Univ. of Edu. Station () is a station of the Busan Metro Line 1 & Donghae Line in Geoje-dong, Yeonje District, Busan, South Korea.
It was named as such due to its proximity to the Busan National University of Education located on the ...
(Line 1, Donghae Line) /
Bexco Station
BEXCO station () is a station on the Busan Metro Line 2 and Donghae Line in U-dong, Haeundae District, Busan, South Korea. The subname in parentheses is "Busan Museum of Modern Art". The metro station was formerly named "Busan Museum of Modern Ar ...
(Line 2, Donghae Line) /
Geoje Station
Geoje Station () is a station of the Busan Metro Line 3 and Donghae Line in Geoje-dong, Yeonje District, Busan, South Korea. The station is unrelated to the Geojehaemaji station of Korail. Nammungu station () on Donghae Line became Geojehaemaji s ...
Gangseo-gu Gangseo-gu (), or "''west of river'' district," is the name of a ''gu'' in 2 South Korean cities:
* Gangseo-gu, Busan
* Gangseo-gu, Seoul
See also
*Kangso-guyok
Kangsŏ is a ward in Nampo, Namp'o Special City, South Pyongan Province, South P'y ...
Busan shares the title of sister city with several coastal cities or provinces around the world.
*
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung City (Mandarin Chinese: ; Wade–Giles: ''Kao¹-hsiung²;'' Pinyin: ''Gāoxióng'') is a special municipality located in southern Taiwan. It ranges from the coastal urban center to the rural Yushan Range with an area of . Kaohsi ...
Surabaya
Surabaya ( jv, ꦱꦸꦫꦧꦪ or jv, ꦯꦹꦫꦨꦪ; ; ) is the capital city of the Provinces of Indonesia, Indonesian province of East Java and the List of Indonesian cities by population, second-largest city in Indonesia, after Jakarta. L ...
, Indonesia (1994)
* State of Victoria, Australia (1994)
*
Ho Chi Minh City
, population_density_km2 = 4,292
, population_density_metro_km2 = 697.2
, population_demonym = Saigonese
, blank_name = GRP (Nominal)
, blank_info = 2019
, blank1_name = – Total
, blank1_ ...
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh (; km, ភ្នំពេញ, ) is the capital and most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since the French protectorate of Cambodia and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its economic, indus ...
Casablanca
Casablanca, also known in Arabic as Dar al-Bayda ( ar, الدَّار الْبَيْضَاء, al-Dār al-Bayḍāʾ, ; ber, ⴹⴹⴰⵕⵍⴱⵉⴹⴰ, ḍḍaṛlbiḍa, : "White House") is the largest city in Morocco and the country's econom ...
Busan has 11 friendship cities in six countries.
* Shenzhen, China (2007)
* Tianjin, China (2007)
* Osaka, Japan (2008)
*
Chongqing
Chongqing ( or ; ; Sichuanese dialects, Sichuanese pronunciation: , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), Postal Romanization, alternately romanized as Chungking (), is a Direct-administered municipalities of China, municipality in Southwes ...
Port of Miami
The Port of Miami, styled as "PortMiami" but formally the Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami, is a major seaport located in Biscayne Bay at the mouth of the Miami River in Miami, Florida. It is the largest passenger port in the world, and one of the ...
, USA (1981)
* –
Port of Osaka
The is the main port in Japan, located in Osaka within Osaka Bay. The Port of Osaka also has several sister ports including the Port of Busan
The Port of Busan () is the largest port in South Korea, located in the city of Busan, South Kore ...
Port of Shanghai
The Port of Shanghai (), located in the vicinity of Shanghai, comprises a deep-sea port and a river port.
The main port enterprise in Shanghai, the Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG), was established during the reconstitution of the S ...
, China (1994)
Notable people
*
Choi Jin-ri
Choi Jin-ri (March 29, 1994 – October 13 or 14, 2019), better known by her stage name Sulli (), was a South Korean actress and singer. She first made her debut as a child actress, appearing as a supporting cast member on the SBS historical d ...
/ Sulli (born 1994, died 2019), singer, actress, former member of
f(x)
F, or f, is the sixth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''ef'' (pronounced ), and the plural is ''efs''.
Hist ...
* Choi Min-gi / Ren (born 1995), singer, songwriter, actor, former member of NU'EST
* Gong Yoo (born in 1979), award-winning actor
* Hwang Min-hyun (born 1995), singer, songwriter, actor, former member of NU'EST
* Jeon Jungkook (born 1997), singer, producer, songwriter, member of BTS
* Jo Yuri (born 2001), singer, actress, former member of IZ*ONE
* Kang Daniel (born in 1996), singer, former member of Wanna One
*
Kim Hee-jin
Kim Hee-jin (; born 29 April 1991) is a South Korean volleyball player. She is a member of the South Korea women's national volleyball team at the 2012 Summer Olympics, 2016 Summer Olympics and 2020 Summer Olympics. The team finished at four ...
(born in 1991), South Korea women's national volleyball team
* Lee Jihoon / Woozi (born 1996), singer, dancer, producer, songwriter, member of
Seventeen
Seventeen or 17 may refer to:
*17 (number), the natural number following 16 and preceding 18
* one of the years 17 BC, AD 17, 1917, 2017
Literature
Magazines
* ''Seventeen'' (American magazine), an American magazine
* ''Seventeen'' (Japanese m ...
*
Park Jihoon
A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are green spaces set aside for recreation inside towns and cities. ...
(born 2000), leader, vocalist, dancer, member of Treasure
* Park Jimin (born 1995), singer, songwriter, dancer, member of BTS
* Sandara Park (born 1984), singer, actress, former member of
2NE1
2NE1 (, ) was a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment, which was active between 2009 and 2016. The group was composed of four members: Bom, CL, Dara, and Minzy. Known for breaking typical stereotypes of K-pop, musical experiment ...
*
Park Woo-jin
Park Woo-jin (Hangul: 박우진, born November 2, 1999), better known mononymously as Woojin, is a South Korean rapper, singer and songwriter. He placed sixth in the second season of ''Produce 101'', becoming a member of the project group Wanna ...
(born 1999), rapper, singer, dancer, songwriter, former member of Wanna One, member of
AB6IX
AB6IX (; ''pronounced as A-B-Six'') is a South Korean boy band formed by Brand New Music. The group currently consists of four members: Jeon Woong, Kim Dong-hyun, Park Woo-jin and Lee Dae-hwi. Former leader Lim Young-min's departure from the gro ...
*
Yang Hyo-jin
Yang Hyo-Jin (Hangul: 양효진, Hanja: 梁孝眞; born 14 December 1989) is a South Korean volleyball player. She currently plays for the Korean club Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate. She is a former member of the South Korea women' ...
(born in 1989), former member of South Korea women's national volleyball team
* Yang Jeongin / I.N (born 2001), vocalist, member of Stray Kids
See also
*
40–step stairway
The 40–step stairway is a historic stairway in the Jung District of Busan, South Korea. It sits at one end of the 40-step Culture & Tourism Theme Street, which is a tourist attraction intended to recall the history of the area and in particular ...
Centum City
Centum City () is a major multi-project urban development part of Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea. It is also one of CBDs in Busan Metropolitan City. This site is at the westernmost area of Haeundae-gu in U-1-dong, Jae-song-dong. The site was orig ...
Pusan Newport International Terminal
Pusan Newport International Terminal (PNIT) is a new port constructed in Busan, in South Korea; it is a joint venture between PSA International and Hanjin.
The port has three deepwater berths, 1.2 km of quay, and a capacity of 2 million TEU ...