Busan (), officially known as is

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. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...

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 Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...

, 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 Ulsan (), officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City is South Korea's seventh-largest metropolitan city and the eighth-largest city overall, with a population of over 1.1 million inhabitants. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring ...

, South Gyeongsang, Daegu, and some of

North Gyeongsang North Gyeongsang Province ( ko, 경상북도, translit=Gyeongsangbuk-do, ) is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, and remained a province of Korea until the ...

and

South Jeolla South Jeolla Province (; ''Jeollanam-do''; ), also known as Jeonnam, is a province of South Korea. South Jeolla has a population of 1,902,324 (2014) and has a geographic area of located in the Honam region at the southwestern tip of the Korea ...

) 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 The Southeastern Maritime Industrial Region (), centered on the harbor cities of Busan and Ulsan, is the Republic of Korea's second largest metropolitan area in terms of population and is the second-most developed region as well. It is also an ...

, 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 The Nakdonggang River or Nakdonggang () is the longest river in South Korea, and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Busan. It takes its name from its role as the eastern border of the Gaya confederacy during Korea's Three Kingdoms Er ...

and the Suyeong Rivers, with mountains separating most of the districts. The Nakdong is Korea's longest river and Busan's

Haeundae Beach Haeundae Beach（）is an urban beach in Busan, South Korea. Often dubbed one of the country's most famous and popular beaches, it is located in the eponymous Haeundae District. The beach is open year-round, and various festivals are held there t ...

is also the country's largest. Busan is a center for international conventions, hosting

APEC 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.

in 2005. It is also a center for sports tournaments in Korea, having hosted the 2002 Asian Games and

FIFA World Cup The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the ' ( FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The tournament ha ...

. It is home to the world's largest

department store A department store is a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different areas of the store, each area ("department") specializing in a product category. In modern major cities, the department store made a dramatic app ...

, the

Shinsegae Shinsegae (, ) is a South Korean department store franchise, along with several other businesses, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. The firm is an affiliate of Shinsegae Group, South Korea's leading retail chaebol, and one of the big three de ...

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 ...

. Busan was added to the

UNESCO Creative Cities Network The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is a project of UNESCO launched in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities which recognized creativity as a major factor in their urban development.

Names

The name "Busan" is the

Revised Romanization Revised Romanization of Korean () is the official Korean language romanization system in South Korea. It was developed by the National Academy of the Korean Language from 1995 and was released to the public on 7 July 2000 by South Korea's Min ...

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) 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 Dongnae District is a '' gu'' in central Busan, South Korea. Administrative divisions It has a population of about 300,000, and an area of 16.7 square kilometers. It was once a separate city, the principal port of southeastern Korea. Numerous ...

in 757.)

History

MtGeochil (''Geochilsan-guk'') is recorded as a chiefdom of the

Jinhan Confederacy Jinhan () was a loose confederacy of chiefdoms that existed from around the 1st century BC to the 4th century AD in the southern Korean Peninsula, to the east of the Nakdong River valley, Gyeongsang Province. Jinhan was one of the Samhan (or ...

in the 2nd–4th centuries. It was absorbed by

Silla Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms ...

and organized as a district (''gun''). The

grave goods Grave goods, in archaeology and anthropology, are the items buried along with the body. They are usually personal possessions, supplies to smooth the deceased's journey into the afterlife or offerings to the gods. Grave goods may be classed as a ...

excavated from mounded burials at Bokcheon-dong indicate that a complex

chiefdom A chiefdom is a form of hierarchical political organization in non-industrial societies usually based on kinship, and in which formal leadership is monopolized by the legitimate senior members of select families or 'houses'. These elites form a ...

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 Dongnae District is a '' gu'' in central Busan, South Korea. Administrative divisions It has a population of about 300,000, and an area of 16.7 square kilometers. It was once a separate city, the principal port of southeastern Korea. Numerous ...

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

ingot An ingot is a piece of relatively pure material, usually metal, that is cast into a shape suitable for further processing. In steelmaking, it is the first step among semi-finished casting products. Ingots usually require a second procedure of sha ...

s 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

and

Jinhae Jinhae-gu (Hangul: 진해구, Hanja: 鎭海區) is a district in Changwon City, South Korea. This region is served by the Korean National Railroad, and is famous for its annual cherry blossom festival every spring. The city front is on a shelter ...

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, 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 A treaty is a formal, legally binding written agreement between actors in international law. It is usually made by and between sovereign states, but can include international organizations, individuals, business entities, and other legal perso ...

. During the Japanese rule, Busan developed into a hub trading port with Japan. Busan was the only city in Korea to adopt the steam

tram A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...

way before

electrification Electrification is the process of powering by electricity and, in many contexts, the introduction of such power by changing over from an earlier power source. The broad meaning of the term, such as in the history of technology, economic histor ...

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 The Korean People's Army (KPA; ) is the military force of North Korea and the armed wing of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). Under the '' Songun'' policy, it is the central institution of North Korean society. Currently, WPK General ...

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. 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 , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

, 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 The Battle of the Pusan Perimeter ( ko, 부산 교두보 전투) was a large-scale battle between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces lasting from August 4 to September 18, 1950. It was one of the first major engagements of the ...

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.

Geography

Busan is located on the southeastern tip of the

Korean Peninsula Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

. It is located on the coast, which determined the development of the whole city itself. The distance from Busan to

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 The Nakdonggang River or Nakdonggang () is the longest river in South Korea, and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Busan. It takes its name from its role as the eastern border of the Gaya confederacy during Korea's Three Kingdoms Er ...

, South Korea's longest river, flows through the west and empties into the

Korea Strait The Korea Strait is a sea passage in East Asia between Korea and Japan, connecting the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan in the northwest Pacific Ocean. The strait is split by the Tsushima Island into the Western Channel and ...

. The southeastern region, called

Yeongnam Yeongnam (Hangul: 영남, ; literally "south of the passes") is a region that coincides with the former Gyeongsang Province in what is now South Korea. The region includes the modern-day provinces of North and South Gyeongsang and the self-go ...

in Korea, encompasses both Gyeongsang Provinces and 3 metropolitan cities of Busan, Daegu and

. Ulsan lies northeast of Busan. Combined population exceeds 13 million. The closest overseas area to Busan is Tsushima, Japan, with a distance of about 49.5 km. The closest Japanese mainland area to Busan is

Fukuoka is the sixth-largest city in Japan, the second-largest port city after Yokohama, and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is built along the shores of Hakata Bay, and has been a center of international commerce since anc ...

, and the distance from Busan to Fukuoka is about 180 km (112 miles). Busan and Fukuoka are sister cities. Cable Car at Geumjeong Mountain

Climate

Located on the southeasternmost tip of the

, Busan has a cooler version of a humid subtropical climate (

Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (born 1951), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author and ...

: ''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

typhoon A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops between 180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere. This region is referred to as the Northwestern Pacific Basin, and is the most active tropical cyclone basin on Earth, accounting for a ...

s 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 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 A gun is a ranged weapon designed to use a shooting tube (gun barrel) to launch projectiles. The projectiles are typically solid, but can also be pressurized liquid (e.g. in water guns/cannons, spray guns for painting or pressure washing, p ...

'' (county). 02-00-busan-en

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 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 ...

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 coll ...

that runs from the Chinese coast to

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...

, towards the southern tip of

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

Mombasa Mombasa ( ; ) is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of the British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital city status. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. The town is ...

, from there through the Red Sea via the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean, there to the Upper Adriatic region to the northern Italian hub of

Trieste Trieste ( , ; sl, Trst ; german: Triest ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital city, and largest city, of the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, one of two autonomous regions which are not subdivided into prov ...

with its connections to

Central Europe Central Europe is an area of Europe between Western Europe and Eastern Europe, based on a common historical, social and cultural identity. The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) between Catholicism and Protestantism significantly shaped the a ...

and the

North Sea The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. An epeiric sea, epeiric sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the ...

. 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 and 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) 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 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 Busan Exhibition and Convention Center, commonly known as BEXCO (), is a convention center, convention and exhibition center located in Centum City, Haeundae-gu, Busan, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea. It features over 46,500 m2 of exhibition spa ...

, 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 i ...

Annual Meetings. (BEXCO) Moreover, Busan is also a center of finance.

Korea Exchange Korea Exchange (KRX) is the sole securities exchange operator in South Korea. It is headquartered in Busan, and has an office for cash markets and market oversight in Seoul. History The Korea Exchange was created through the integration of Ko ...

(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. Seomyeon Street

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

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 Jagalchi Fish Market is a fish market in the neighborhood of Nampo-dong in Jung-gu, and Chungmu-dong, Seo-gu, Busan, South Korea. The market is located on the edge of Nampo Port (남포항), Busan. It is considered to be the largest fish marke ...

, a large seafood market, is located in this area. The

Gukje Market Gukje Market or Nampodong International Market is a market in Sinchang-dong, Jung District, Busan, South Korea. It opens from 9:30am to 7:30pm. Gallery File:Gukje Market, October 2019 03.jpg File:Manmul Street in Busan.jpg File:Gukje Marke ...

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, 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 (BUFS) *Busan Presbyterian University *Busan National University of Education (BNUE) *Catholic University of Pusan *Dongseo University *Dong-A University *Dong-eui University *University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Friedrich-Alexander University Busan Campus (German University in Korea) *Inje University – Busan Campus *Kosin University *Korea Maritime University, Korea Maritime and Ocean University *Kyungsung University *Pukyong National University (PKNU) *Pusan National University (PNU) *Silla University *Tongmyong University *Youngsan University

Other institutes of higher education

*Busan Arts College *Busan Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) *Busan Kyungsang College *Busan Polytechnic College *Daedong College *Dong-Pusan College *Dongju College *Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology

Foreign schools

Primary and secondary schools: *Busan Foreign Language High School, Busan Foreign Language High School (부산외국어고등학교) *Busan Foreign School (Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade) * *International School of Busa
(
Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade) *Overseas Chinese Elementary School Busan (; ) *Overseas Chinese High School, Busan

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

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 Beach, 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, which is south-central.

is one of the most famous beaches in Korea. The 2009 film ''Tidal Wave (2009 film), Tidal Wave'' (2009) is about a tsunami hitting Busan at this beach.

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 Buddhism, Korean Buddhist temple. Yongdusan Park occupies 69,000 square meters/ 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.

-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 (Busan), Chungnyeolsa is a Confucian shrine for soldiers who died during the 16th century battle against the Japanese at Dongnae Fortress. Taejongdae is a natural park with cliffs facing the open sea on the island of Yeongdo-gu, 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-dong, 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". APEC Nurimaru

Busan Citizens Park (formerly Camp Hialeah) is a former Imperial Japanese Army base and United States Army camp located in the Busanjin District. Dongbaekseom, Dongbaek Island is located at the southern end of

. 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. Daejeo Ecological Park

Millak Waterfront Park is the first waterfront park in Korea, which combines the oceanfront with public leisure facilities. The park is located between

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

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 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

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Busan, South Korea

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

Arts

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. 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 UNESCO Memory of the World Programme in 2017) and Busan Port Festival in May, the Busan Sea Festival at

, 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 of Art *Museum of Contemporary Art Busan *Busan Museum of Movies *Busan Modern History Museum *Busan Marine Natural History Museum *Korea National Maritime Museum *Bokcheon Museum *Kiswire Museum *Provisional Capital Memorial Hall *Trickeye Museum *United Nations Peace Memorial Hall *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 (cooking), 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 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. 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)

Religion

According to the census of 2015, 28.5% followed Buddhism and 17.5% followed Christianity (12.1% Protestantism and 5.4% Catholic Church, Catholicism). 53.2% of the population is irreligious.

Media

Sports

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. It considered bidding to host the 2032 Summer Olympics. Sports teams and facilities

Baseball

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.사직구장 대대적 보수로 지정석만 2만1천석
. Kyunghyang Shinmun, Sports Khan. Retrieved 2011-11-27 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

The city is home to a K League football club, the Busan IPark. 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 FC, Busan Transportation Corporation.

Basketball

Until 2021, Busan was home of the Korean Basketball League team Busan KT Sonicboom, which played at the Sajik Arena. Since 2019, Busan is home of the Women's Korean Basketball League team Busan BNK Sum. 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 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 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, Changwon, Gimhae and

also offer service to Busan.

Gimhae Airport Limousine Bus

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 Metro), Busanjin Station, Busan station, Busan Station, Nampo-dong ↔ Chungmu-dong (Seo-gu Office) - Haeundae No.1: Gimhae International Airport ↔ Namcheon-dong, Busan Exhibition and Convention Center, BEXCO, Dongbaekseom (Westin Chosun Busan), Haeundae District, Haeundae ↔ Jangsan station, New City (Jangsan Station) - Haeundae No.2: Gimhae International Airport ↔ Namcheon-dong, Gwangandaegyo, Gwangan Bridge, Haeundae ↔ Jangsan station, New Town (Jangsan Station) Express Bus

Intercity buses

Intercity buses to east South Gyeongsang Province, Gyeongnam, North Gyeongsang Province, Gyeongbuk, Gangwon Province, South Korea, Gangwon and Gyeonggi Province, 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 City, 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

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, Fukuoka, 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 hydrofoils 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

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

, 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. The Gyeongbu Line terminates at Busan Station. Other lines include the Donghae Nambu Line which connects

, 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

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

Air

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

International relations

Twin towns – sister cities

Busan shares the title of sister city with several coastal cities or provinces around the world. * Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1966) * Los Angeles, USA (1967) * Shimonoseki, Japan (1976) * Barcelona, Spain (1983) * Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1985) * Vladivostok, Russia (1992) * Shanghai, China (1993) * Surabaya, Indonesia (1994) * State of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia (1994) * Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (1995) * Tijuana, Mexico (1995) * Auckland, New Zealand (1996) * Valparaíso, Chile (1999) * Montreal, Canada (2000) * Western Cape, South Africa (2000) * Istanbul, Turkey (2002) * Dubai, UAE (2006) * Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan (2007) * Chicago, USA (2007) * Saint Petersburg, Russia (2008) * Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2009) * Mumbai, India (2009) * Thessaloniki, Greece (2010) * Casablanca, Morocco (2011) * Cebu Province, Philippines (2011) * Yangon, Myanmar (2013) * Gdynia, Poland (2020)

Friendship cities

Busan has 11 friendship cities in six countries. * Shenzhen, China (2007) * Tianjin, China (2007) * Osaka, Japan (2008) * Chongqing, China (2010) * Bangkok, Thailand (2011) * Beijing, China (2013) * Nagasaki, Japan (2014) * Bandar Abbas, Iran (2016) * Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (2016) * Panama City, Panama (2016) * Guangzhou, China (2019)

Sister ports

The Port of Busan also has 6 sister ports (listed in order of dates). * – Port of Southampton, UK (1978) * – Port of Miami, USA (1981) * – Port of Osaka, Japan (1985) * – Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands (1985) * – Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Port of New York & New Jersey, USA (1988) * – Port of Shanghai, China (1994)

Notable people

*Sulli, Choi Jin-ri / Sulli (born 1994, died 2019), singer, actress, former member of f(x) (musical group), f(x) *Ren (singer), 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 *Jungkook, Jeon Jungkook (born 1997), singer, producer, songwriter, member of BTS *Jo Yu-ri, 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 (born in 1991), South Korea women's national volleyball team *Woozi, Lee Jihoon / Woozi (born 1996), singer, dancer, producer, songwriter, member of Seventeen (South Korean band), Seventeen *Park Ji-hoon (singer, born 2000), Park Jihoon (born 2000), leader, vocalist, dancer, member of Treasure (band), Treasure *Jimin, Park Jimin (born 1995), singer, songwriter, dancer, member of BTS *Sandara Park (born 1984), singer, actress, former member of 2NE1 *Park Woo-jin (born 1999), rapper, singer, dancer, songwriter, former member of Wanna One, member of AB6IX *Yang Hyo-jin (born in 1989), former member of South Korea women's national volleyball team *Yang Jeong-in, Yang Jeongin / I.N (born 2001), vocalist, member of Stray Kids

Notes

References

Citations

Bibliography

*. *.

External links

*
All About Busan
small> – The Official Korea Tourism Guide Site * {{Authority control Busan, Populated coastal places in South Korea Port cities and towns in South Korea Special Cities and Metropolitan Cities of South Korea