Busan (), officially Busan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's second most populous city after

Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...

, with a population of over 3.3 million as of 2024. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, with its port being South Korea's busiest and the sixth-busiest in the world. The surrounding "Southeastern Maritime Industrial Region" (including Ulsan,

South Gyeongsang South Gyeongsang Province (, ) is a Administrative divisions of South Korea, 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 Heri ...

Daegu Daegu (; ), formerly spelled Taegu and officially Daegu Metropolitan City (), is a city in southeastern South Korea. It is the third-largest urban agglomeration in South Korea after Seoul and Busan; the fourth-largest List of provincial-level ci ...

, and part 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. As of 2019, Busan Port is the primary port in Korea and the world's sixth-largest container port. Busan is divided into 15 major administrative

district A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municip ...

s and a single

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

, 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 River is Korea's longest river and Busan's Haeundae Beach is also the country's largest. Busan is a center for international conventions, hosting an APEC summit 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 called the World Cup, is an international association football competition among the senior List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams of the members of the FIFA, Fédération Internatio ...

. 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 under one roof, each area ("department") specializing in a product category. In modern major cities, the department store mad ...

, the

Shinsegae Shinsegae Inc. (, ) is a South Korean department store Franchising, 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 ...

Centum City. Busan was added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a "City of Film" in December 2014.

Names

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 colonial period, the Japanese reading of the city's name was "Fuzan". The name (now written using the

Korean alphabet The Korean alphabet is the modern writing system for the Korean language. In North Korea, the alphabet is known as (), and in South Korea, it is known as (). The letters for the five basic consonants reflect the shape of the speech organs ...

) is Sino-Korean for "Cauldron Mountain", believed to be a former name of MtHwangnyeong () west of the city center. The area's ancient state MtGeochil (, "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

The area that Busan now occupies was inhabited during the

Neolithic The Neolithic or New Stone Age (from Ancient Greek, Greek 'new' and 'stone') is an archaeological period, the final division of the Stone Age in Mesopotamia, Asia, Europe and Africa (c. 10,000 BCE to c. 2,000 BCE). It saw the Neolithic Revo ...

period. Artifacts dating to this period discovered near the coast include stone tools, pottery, sea shells, and animal bones. Fishing was a primary food source for people of this period.

Bronze Age The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...

artifacts have been uncovered further inland. By this period, agriculture was practiced. Around the first century, a chiefdom called Koch'ilsan-guk () existed around what is now Dongnae District. At some point, it was absorbed by

Silla Silla (; Old Korean: wikt:徐羅伐#Old Korean, 徐羅伐, Yale romanization of Korean, Yale: Syerapel, Revised Romanization of Korean, RR: ''Seorabeol''; International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: ) was a Korean kingdom that existed between ...

and made an administrative division called Koch'ilsan-gun (). In 757, it was renamed Dongnae-gun (). In 835, the Buddhist temple Beomeosa was founded in the area. In the

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean state founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korea, Korean Peninsula until the establishment of Joseon in 1392. Goryeo achieved what has b ...

period (918–1392), the local became a prominent presence in Korean politics. By this point, Dongnae's hot springs became famous, and have been attested to in writings of this period. By the end of the period, raids from ''

wokou ''Wokou'' ( zh, c=, p=Wōkòu; ; Hepburn romanization, Hepburn: ; ; literal Chinese translation: "dwarf bandits"), which translates to "Japanese pirates", were pirates who raided the coastlines of China and Korea from the 13th century to the 17 ...

'' (Japanese pirates) intensified. One such invasion occurred in 1396. To defend against this, the fortress Dongnaeeupseong was established in the area. In 1423, the port of Busan () and a '' waegwan'' (Japanese concession community) were established. During the reign of King Sejong the Great (r. 1418–1450), the population in Dongnae-hyeon was reportedly 2,416 people in 290 households. In Dongpyeong-hyeon, it was 627 people in 108 households. The ''waegwan'' was closed in 1510, but reopened in 1512. During the 1592–1598 Japanese invasions of Korea, various fortresses in the area defended Busan against the invasion. Fortresses included Busanjinseong, , and Dongnaeeupseong. Civilians formed righteous armies (volunteer militias) and joined in the fight. After the siege and capture of Busanjin in 1592, most of Busanjin's Korean prisoners and civilians were massacred. After the war, diplomatic relations with the new shogunate in Japan were established in 1607, and Busan was permitted to be reconstructed. In 1605, the shrine Songgongsa was built to honor those who died defending Korea during the invasions. The shrine was dubbed Chungnyeolsa in 1624. In 1607, a ''waegwan'' was reestablished in Dumopo (); in 1678 it was moved to Choryang (; now around Yongdusan). In 1763, Busan became the first place in Korea to have sweet potatoes, which arrived from Tsushima Island in Japan. In 1759, the population was reportedly 25,753 people in 6,657 households. In 1876, Busan became the first international port in Korea under the terms of the Treaty of Ganghwa. In 1877, a concession was established in Busan, and consulates of Japan, Qing, and the United Kingdom were established. In 1883, the port was opened, and a Busan Customs Office () was established. In 1895, Dongnae-bu was made part of South Gyeongsang Province. It was demoted to a ''gun'' in 1903, and made a ''bu'' again in 1906. After the beginning of the 1910–1945 Japanese colonial period, in 1914 it was made a ''gun'' again. In 1908, Busan was connected to the Gyeongbu Line via Busan station. In 1909, a ferry service was opened between Busan and Shimonoseki in Japan. In 1914, Dongnae-bu was reorganized into Busan-bu. In 1915, a tram was opened between Busanjin and the . The following year, the city tram opened.'''' 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 (also known as a streetcar or trolley in Canada and the United States) is an urban rail transit in which Rolling stock, vehicles, whether individual railcars or multiple-unit trains, run on tramway tracks on urban public streets; some ...

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. In the context of history of technology and economic development, electrification refe ...

was introduced in 1924. During the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

, 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

. As a result, the cities became

refugee camp A refugee camp is a temporary Human settlement, 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 in ...

sites for Koreans during the war. According to ''

The Korea Times ''The Korea Times'' () is a daily English-language newspaper in South Korea. It is a sister paper of the ''Hankook Ilbo'', a major Korean language, Korean-language daily. It is the oldest active daily English-language newspaper in South Korea. ...

'', 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

, for some time it served as a ''de facto'' capital of South Korea. UN troops established a defensive perimeter around the city known as the Pusan Perimeter in the summer and fall of 1950. Since then, the city has been a self-governing metropolis and has built a strong urban character. In 1963, Busan separated from South Gyeongsang Province to become the first of South Korea. In 1983, the provincial capital of Gyeongsangnam-do was moved from Busan to

Changwon Changwon (; ) is the capital and largest city of South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea (with a population of 1,025,702 ), and the 11th largest city of the South Korea, country. A port city, Changwon is bordered by Masan Bay to the south, and the ...

Geography

Busan is located on the southeastern tip of the

Korean Peninsula Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically divided at or near the 38th parallel between North Korea (Dem ...

. 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 to the north and west, and the

Korea Strait The Korea Strait is a strait, sea passage in East Asia between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. It connects the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan in the northwest Pacific Ocean. The strait is split by Tsushima Island into two par ...

to the south and east. The Nakdong River Delta is located on the west side of the city, and Geumjeongsan, the highest mountain in the city, is on the north. The Nakdong River, South Korea's longest river, flows through the west and empties into the

. The southeastern region, called

Yeongnam Yeongnam (, ; literally "south of the ridge") is a region that coincides with the former Gyeongsang Province, one of the ancient Eight Provinces, in what is now South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a countr ...

in Korea, encompasses both

Gyeongsang Province Gyeongsang Province (; ) was one of the Eight Provinces of Joseon Korea. Gyeongsang was located in southeastern Korea. The provincial capital of Gyeongsang was Daegu. The region was the birthplace of the kingdom of Silla, which unified Korea i ...

s and 3 metropolitan cities of Busan,

and Ulsan. Ulsan lies northeast of Busan. The combined population exceeds 13 million. The closest overseas area to Busan is Tsushima,

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

, with a distance of about . The closest Japanese mainland area to Busan is

Fukuoka is the List of Japanese cities by population, sixth-largest city in Japan 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 ancient times. ...

, and there is about 180 km (112 miles). Busan and Fukuoka are also sister cities.

Climate

Located on the southeasternmost tip of the

, Busan has a cooler version of a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

, bordering on a subtropical monsoon climate influenced by East Asian monsoon (

Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...

: ''Cfa'', bordering on ''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 Fall, August, and September, are generally hot and humid and the city may experience

typhoon A typhoon is a tropical cyclone that develops between 180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere and which produces sustained hurricane-force winds of at least . This region is referred to as the Northwestern Pacific Basin, 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, 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, producing 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 Province Jeju Province (; ), officially Jeju Special Self-Governing Province (Jeju language, Jeju: ; ), is the southernmost Provinces of South Korea, province of South Korea, consisting of eight inhabited and 55 uninhabited islands, including Marado, Udo ...

and several islands off the southern coast. Busan and the nearby area have 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.

Administrative divisions

In 1957, Busan adopted a division system with the creation of six '' gu'' (districts): Busanjin District, Dong District, Dongnae District, Jung District, Seo District, and Yeongdo District. Today, Busan has divided into fifteen ''gu'' and one '' gun'' (county).

Economy

Busan is the second 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 2022, the maritime city recorded a GRDP of KRW 104 trillion with a per capita GRDP of KRW 39.6 million. 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 sixth 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 that runs from the Chinese coast to

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

, towards the southern tip of

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

Mombasa Mombasa ( ; ) is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital status in 1907. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. The town is ...

, from there through the

Red Sea The Red Sea is a sea inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. Its connection to the ocean is in the south, through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. To its north lie the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and th ...

via the

Suez Canal The Suez Canal (; , ') is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, Indo-Mediterranean, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez and dividing Africa and Asia (and by extension, the Sinai Peninsula from the rest ...

to the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...

, there to the Upper Adriatic region to the northern Italian hub of

Trieste Trieste ( , ; ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital and largest city of the Regions of Italy#Autonomous regions with special statute, autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, as well as of the Province of Trieste, ...

with its connections to

Central Europe Central Europe is a geographical region of Europe between Eastern Europe, Eastern, Southern Europe, Southern, Western Europe, Western and Northern Europe, Northern Europe. Central Europe is known for its cultural diversity; however, countries in ...

and the

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

. 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 District. Moreover, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) World Congress was hosted in Busan in 2020. 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's convention and exhibition zone have excellent conditions and infrastructure to host large-scale international events, which includes BEXCO in Centum City, Nurimaru APEC House, and hotels nearby natural environments. Major international conferences in Busan include the 2005 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, ASEAN–Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit 2014, and 2018 African Development Bank Group Annual Meetings. 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. 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 four major shopping areas: Seomyeon, Gwangbok-dong, Busan Daehak-ga in Jangjeon-dong, and Centum City in Haeundae District. Seomyeon Station is one of the busiest subway stations in Korea; it is the transfer station between Busan Subway Line 1 and Line 2. Seomyeon subway station is also home to a large number of underground stores, selling a variety of products, predominantly clothing, and footwear. These are small stores 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, and Jungang-dong areas form the old central business district. Some of the restaurants in this district use family recipes passed down through 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. Busan has many major department stores, including Lotte Department Store (located in Seomyeon, Centum City, Gwangbok-dong and Dongnae), Lotte Premium Outlet (in Gimhae and Gijang),

Premium Outlet (in Gijang), as well as large supermarket chains across the city, such as Homeplus, e-mart, and Costco. Busan's major hotels include The Westin Chosun Busan, Paradise Busan, and Park Hyatt Busan. In 2017, Ananti Hilton Busan opened in the Gijang-eup district.

Education

Universities with graduate schools

A panoramic view of Pusan National University. Busan Korea Maritime University

* 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 * Friedrich-Alexander University Busan Campus (German University in Korea) * Inje University – Busan Campus * Kosin 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 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

High schools

* Keumjeong High School (1986) *Kyeongwon High School (1986) * Gaya High School

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

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, south of central Busan. Haeundae Beach is Busan's most famous beach. It is a staple setting for South Korean films and TV shows, such as the 2009 film '' Tidal Wave''. Dongbaekseom is located at the southern end of Haeundae Beach. This island is picturesque 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. Songjeong beach is the next beach north of Haeundae Beach. Geumjeongsan to the west is a weekend hiking spot for Busan residents. To the north, the neighborhoods around Pusan National University (also known as PNU, which is one of the most highly recognized national institutes of higher education in Korea) have student theaters, cafés, bars, and restaurants, as well as open-air cultural street performances on weekend nights. Nearby is Beomeosa, the city's main Korean Buddhist temple. Haedong yonggungsa temple 3

Yongdusan Park occupies 69,000m²/ 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. Dongnae District 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 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 () 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. Gamcheon Cultural Village was created in the 1950s as a residential community along a mountain slope. The houses in the village are built in a staircase fashion. The village often dubbed the "Machu Picchu of Korea" attracts many tourists. In addition, the village received a special mention during the 3rd edition of the international award ceremony, "UCLG-MEXICO CITY-Culture 21". Busan Citizens Park (formerly Camp Hialeah) is a former Imperial Japanese Army base and United States Army camp located in the Busanjin District. 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

Millac Waterfront Park is the first waterfront park in Korea, 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. Nampo-dong is a central shopping and café district. The area around Pukyong National University and Kyungsung University also has many cafés, bars, and restaurants attracting college students and youth. 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 is one of the busiest areas, with a variety of entertainment, restaurants, and stores. 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. The Bujeon-dong and Jeonpo-dong areas were full of hardware stores and machine part suppliers, but since 2010 the area has been transformed into a street full of cafés. 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 Temple * Busanjinjiseong Fortress (or Jaseongdae) * Cheonseongjinseong Fortress * Chungnyeolsa Shrine * Dongnaeeupseong Fortress *Dongnae Hyanggyo Confucian shrine-school *Dongnaebu Dongheon * Dongsam-dong Shell Mound * Fortress site of Jwasuyeong * Geumjeongsanseong Fortress * Haedong Yonggungsa *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. Busan is also the home of the Busan Biennale, as an international contemporary art biennale that 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

A variety of festivals are held in the Busan throughout the year. Following the Joseon Tongsinsa Festival (Registration of Documents on Joseon Tongsinsa on the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

Memory 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 takes 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 the e-Sports World Championship are hosted in November, followed by the Busan Christmas Tree Festival in December. 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'' (), a variant of '' pajeon'' (Korean savory pancakes), made with whole scallions, sliced chili peppers, and various kinds of seafood in a thick batter of wheat flour, glutinous rice flour, eggs, salt and water. 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 the recipes of their local specialties. One of these foods is '' milmyeon'' () () a version of '' naengmyeon'', cold buckwheat noodle soup, but using wheat flour instead. (Naengmyeon is originally a specialty food of Hamhung and

Pyongyang Pyongyang () is the Capital city, capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is sometimes labeled as the "Capital of the Revolution" (). Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. Accordi ...

, now part of North Korea.) '' Dwaeji gukbap'' () () 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. File:Korean pan cake-Dongnae pajeon-01.jpg, Dongnae pajeon File:Milmyeon.jpg, Milmyeon File:돼지국밥.jpg, Dwaeji gukbap

Hot spring resorts and spas

Busan has the largest

hot spring A hot spring, hydrothermal spring, or geothermal spring is a Spring (hydrology), spring produced by the emergence of Geothermal activity, geothermally heated groundwater onto the surface of the Earth. The groundwater is heated either by shallow ...

resorts and facilities in Korea. Busan's Oncheon is the oldest hot spring spa in Korea. *Spa Land (Haeundae District) *HurShimChung Hot Spring Resorts and Spa Town (Dongnae District) *Haeundae Hot Spring Resorts and Spa Towns (Haeundae District) *Dongnae Hot Spring Resorts and Spa Towns (Dongnae District) *Gwangalli Spa Towns (Suyeong District)

Media

In popular culture

Although Seoul remains the de facto film and television capital of South Korea, Busan shares more in common with

Cannes Cannes (, ; , ; ) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a communes of France, commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France, department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions Internatio ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

than just its reputation as

seaside resort A seaside resort is a city, resort town, town, village, or hotel that serves as a Resort, vacation resort and is located on a coast. Sometimes the concept includes an aspect of an official accreditation based on the satisfaction of certain requi ...

town. The Busan International Film Festival is often referred to as the "

of Asia", attracting thousands of entertainment personalities from both Eastern and Western cinema every year, honoring and recognizing international luminaries such as Mike Leigh, Shōhei Imamura, Wong Kar-wai, and

Kim Ki-duk Kim Ki-duk ( ; 20 December 196011 December 2020) was a South Korean film director and screenwriter, noted for his Idiosyncrasy, idiosyncratic Art film, art-house cinematic works. His films have received many distinctions in the festival circuit ...

. It is frequently used as a film location, best known in the west for Marvel's ''

Black Panther A black panther is the Melanism, melanistic colour variant of the leopard (''Panthera pardus'') and the jaguar (''Panthera onca''). Black panthers of both species have excess black pigments, but their typical Rosette (zoology), rosettes are al ...

'' and Apple's '' Pachinko'', but also for the Korean market productions of '' Train to Busan'', '' Old Boy'', and '' Decision to Leave'', as well as the popular K-Drama '' Reply 1997'', highlighting the distinct Gyeongsang dialect, which is comparable to a

Scottish English Scottish English is the set of varieties of the English language spoken in Scotland. The transregional, standardised variety is called Scottish Standard English or Standard Scottish English (SSE). Scottish Standard English may be defined ...

in relation to standard

British English British English is the set of Variety (linguistics), varieties of the English language native to the United Kingdom, especially Great Britain. More narrowly, it can refer specifically to the English language in England, or, more broadly, to ...

. Works set in Busan tend to be crime noirs. Additionally, Busan often appears as an escape location or disaster area. Stories where characters escape to Busan to flee accidents or disasters in Seoul and then escape overseas are quite common clichés in Korean disaster films. Train to Busan carries out an escape to Busan, as the title suggests. Until the late 1990s, most dramas, movies, commercials, and music videos were filmed in the Seoul area, making filming outside Seoul quite rare. In the early 2000s, it was relatively easy to obtain permits for road closures and explosion scenes in Busan that would have been impossible in Seoul. Thanks to active support from the city, word of mouth started in the film industry, leading to a preference for filming in the Busan area. In particular, the film ''Haeundae'' was a box office success, achieving 10 million viewers.

Demographics

Between 1945 and 1951, the city's population grew from 280,000 to 840,000. It decreased from 3,513,777 in 2015 to 3,266,598 in 2024. This decline, which accelerated in the 1990s, is attributed to South Korea's economic shift towards high-tech industries, concentrated around Seoul, and away from Busan's traditional manufacturing base.

Religion

In 2024, 29% followed

Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

and 21% followed

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

(14%

Protestantism Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

and 7%

Catholicism The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

), and 2% other religions. 48% of the population is irreligious.

Sports

The city planned to bid for the

2020 Summer Olympics The officially the and officially branded as were an international multi-sport event that was held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some of the preliminary sporting events beginning on 21 July 2021. Tokyo ...

, but withdrew after the

2018 Winter Olympics The 2018 Winter Olympics (), officially the XXIII Olympic Winter Games (; ) and also known as PyeongChang 2018 (), were an international winter multi-sport event held between 9 and 25 February 2018 in Pyeongchang County, South Ko ...

were awarded to Pyeongchang, also located in South Korea. The 2020 Summer Olympics were eventually awarded to

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

. 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 The Lotte Giants () are a South Korean professional baseball, professional baseball team based in Busan. They are a member of the KBO League. The Lotte Giants are owned by Lotte Corporation. From 1982 through 1985, they played at Gudeok Baseball ...

, 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
. 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.

Basketball

Until 2021, Busan was home of the

Korean Basketball League The Korean Basketball League () or simply 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 s ...

team Busan KT Sonicboom, which played at the Sajik Arena. Since 2019, Busan is the 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 and 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 Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the coastal exclave of Oecusse in the island's northwest, and ...

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, and 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 District. 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.

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,

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

Intercity buses

Intercity buses to the east Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Gangwon and Gyeonggi Provinces are available at the Busan Central Bus Terminal. Buses offering service to West Gyeongnam and Jeolla Province depart from the Busan West Bus Terminal located in Sasang. Buses to the east Gyeongnam area, including Ulsan, Gimhae, and Changwon, the Seoul Metropolitan Area, including

Osan Osan (; ) is a Subdivisions of South Korea, city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, approximately south of Seoul. The population of the city is around 200,000. The local economy is supported by a mix of agricultural and industrial enterprises. ...

Suwon Suwon (; ) is the largest city and capital of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea's most populous province. The city lies approximately south of the national capital, Seoul. With a population of 1.2 million, Suwon has more inhabitants than Ulsan, tho ...

Ansan Ansan (, ) is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It lies southwest of Seoul and is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Area. It is connected to Seoul by rail via Seoul Subway Line 4. It is situated on the Yellow Sea coast and some islands lie ...

, Bucheon and Dong Seoul, and the southern Gangwon area, including Donghae and Gangneung, are available at the Haeundae Intercity Bus Terminal. The Dongnae Intercity Bus Terminal has buses to the central and southern Gyeongnam area, including Changwon, Gimhae, Gosung, Tongyoung, and Geoje, as well as to Suncheon, Yeosu and Gwangyang.

Sea

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,

, and

Osaka is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the List of cities in Japan, third-most populous city in J ...

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 Shimono. *One of the ferries to Fukuoka is the ''Camellia'', operated by the Camellia Line. The Camellia makes the trip to Fukuoka overnight in 7 hours 30 minutes, and a 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 and 55 minutes to cross the

to Fukuoka. The ''Beetle''s are owned by JR Kyushu.

Rail

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

. All classes of trains run along the Gyeongbu Line, including the super high 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 Ulsan,

Pohang Pohang (; ), formerly spelled Po-Hang, is the largest city in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, with a List of cities in South Korea, population of 499,363 as of 2022, bordering the Sea of Japan, East Sea to the east, Yeongcheon to the w ...

and

Gyeongju Gyeongju (, ), historically known as Seorabeol (, ), is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of ...

. SRT was 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 Lines 2, 5, and 8, as well as the Shinbundang Line, and it is also located near the Dongbu Expressway which 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 (Lines 2, 3) / Deokcheon Station (Lines 2, 3) / Minam Station (Lines 3, 4) / Dongnae Station (Lines 1, 4) / Sasang Station (Line 2, Busan - Gimhae Light Rail Transit) / Daejeo Station (Line 3, Busan - Gimhae Light Rail Transit) / Busan National University of Education Station (Line 1, Donghae Line) / Bexco Station (Line 2, Donghae Line) / Geoje Station (Line 3, Donghae Line).

Air

Busan is served by Gimhae International Airport in Gangseo District. Gimhae International Airport is connected by Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit. A new airport is being built on the southern end of Gadeokdo island to replace Gimhae International Airport, this will be the first airport constructed offshore in South Korea. But, this plan is almost deleted now.

International relations

Sister cities

Busan shares the title of

sister city A sister city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties. While there are early examples of inte ...

with several coastal cities or provinces around the world. *

Kaohsiung Kaohsiung, officially Kaohsiung City, is a special municipality located in southern Taiwan. It ranges from the coastal urban center to the rural Yushan Range with an area of . Kaohsiung City has a population of approximately 2.73 million p ...

, Taiwan (1966) *

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, US (1967) * Shimonoseki, Japan (1976) *

Barcelona Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...

, Spain (1983) *

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

, Brazil (1985) * Vladivostok, Russia (1992) *

Shanghai Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...

, China (1993) * Surabaya, Indonesia (1994) * State of Victoria, Australia (1994) *

Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) ('','' TP.HCM; ), commonly known as Saigon (; ), is the most populous city in Vietnam with a population of around 14 million in 2025. The city's geography is defined by rivers and canals, of which the largest is Saigo ...

, Vietnam (1995) *

Tijuana Tijuana is the most populous city of the Mexican state of Baja California, located on the northwestern Pacific Coast of Mexico. Tijuana is the municipal seat of the Tijuana Municipality, the hub of the Tijuana metropolitan area and the most popu ...

, Mexico (1995) * Auckland, New Zealand (1996) * Valparaíso, Chile (1999) * Montreal, Canada (2000) * Western Cape, South Africa (2000) * Istanbul, Turkey (2002) * Dubai, UAE (2006) *

, Japan (2007) * Chicago, US (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) *

, 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, US (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, US (1988) * – Port of Shanghai, China (1994)

Notable people

*Ahn Bo-hyun, Ahn Bohyun (born 1988), actor *Ahn Jae-hong (actor), Ahn Jaehong (born 1986), actor *Ahn Jae-mo, Ahn Jaemo (born 1979), singer and actor *Bae Woo-hee, Bae Woohee (born 1991), singer, actress, and former member of Dal Shabet and Uni.T *Baek Seung-hyeon, Baek Seunghyeon (born 1975), actor *Cho Jin-woong, Cho Jinwoong (born 1976), actor *Cho Won-woo (windsurfer), Cho Won-woo (born 1994), Windsurfing, windsurfer *Sulli, Choi Jin-ri / Sulli (born 1994, died 2019), singer, actress, and former member of f(x) (musical group), F(x) *Choi Ji-woo, Choi Jiwoo (born 1975), actress *Choi Kwon-soo, Choi Kwonsoo (born 2004), actor *Ren (singer), Choi Min-gi / Ren (born 1995), singer, songwriter, actor, and former member of NU'EST *Arin (singer), Choi Ye-won / Arin (born 1999), singer, actress, and member of Oh My Girl *Exy, Chu Sojung / Exy (born 1995), rapper, singer, songwriter, actress and member of WJSN *Chun Ho-jin, Chun Hojin (born 1960), actor *Daniel Dae Kim (born 1968), Korean-American actor *Gang Dong-won, Gang Dongwon (born 1981), actor *Gong Yoo (born in 1979), actor *Grace Jung (born 1987), Korean American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and filmmaker *Ha Yeon-soo, Ha Yeonsoo (born 1990), actress *Han Seung-woo (born 1994), singer-songwriter, rapper, dancer, actor, member of Victon and former member of X1 (group), X1 *Han Sun-hwa (born 1990), singer, actress, and former member of Secret (South Korean group), Secret *Heamin Choi (born 1984), racing driver *Heo Sung-tae, Heo Sungtae (born 1977), actor *Hwang Min-hyun (born 1995), singer, songwriter, actor, and former member of Wanna One and NU'EST *Jang Hye-jin (actress), Jang Hyejin (born 1975), actress *Jang Wooyoung (born 1989), singer, songwriter, dancer, actor, and member of 2PM *Jungkook, Jeon Jungkook (born 1997), singer, producer, songwriter, dancer, and member of BTS *Jung Eun-chae, Jung Eunchae (born 1986), model, actress, and singer *Jung Dae-hyun (born 1993), singer, songwriter, actor, and former member of B.A.P *Jung Eun-ji (born 1993), singer, songwriter, actress, and member of Apink *Jo Yu-ri, Jo Yuri (born 2001), singer, actress, and former member of Iz*One *Kang Daniel (born in 1996), singer, a former member of Wanna One *Kang Ha-neul, Kang Haneul (born 1990), actor *Kang Mal-geum (born 1979), actress *Kang Seung-yoon, Kang Seungyoon (born 1994), singer-songwriter, actor, composer, and member of Winner (band), WINNER *Kim Dong-jun, Kim Dongjun (born 1992), singer, actor, and former member of ZE:A *Kim Hee-jin (born in 1991), South Korea women's national volleyball team *Ji Soo, Kim Jisoo (born 1993), actor and model *Kim Jung-hyun (actor, born 1990), Kim Junghyun (born 1990), actor *Winter (singer), Kim Minjeong / Winter (born in 2001), singer and member of Aespa and Got the Beat. *Kim Seul-gi, Kim Seulgi (born 1991), actress and comedian *Kim Se-yong, Kim Seyong (born 1991), singer, rapper, actor, and former member of Myname *Kim Sook (comedian), Kim Suk (born 1975), comedian *Kim Tae-hee, Kim Taehee (born 1980), actress and model *Kim Won-hae, Kim Wonhae (born 1969), actor and comedian *Kwon Mina (born 1993), singer, actress, and former member of AOA (group), AOA and AOA Black *Hoya (singer), Lee Hodong / Lee Howon / Hoya (born 1991), singer, rapper, songwriter, dancer, actor, former member of Infinite (group), Infinite *Lee Jong-hyun, Lee Jonghyun (born 1990), singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor, and former member of CNBLUE *Lee Jang-kun (born 1992), professional Kabaddi player *Woozi, Lee Jihoon / Woozi (born 1996), singer, dancer, producer, songwriter, and member of Seventeen (South Korean band), Seventeen *Lee Joon-gi, Lee Joongi (born 1982), actor, singer, writer, dancer, and model *Sandeul, Lee Junghwan / Sandeul (born 1992), singer, actor, and member of B1A4 *Lee Seung-hoon (rapper), Lee Seunghoon / Hoony (born 1992), rapper, dancer, choreographer, and member of Winner (band), WINNER *Lee Su-ji, Lee Suji / Halla (born 1998), singer, actress, and former member of The Ark and Uni.T, UNI.T *Nam Joo-hyuk, Nam Joohyuk (born 1994), actor and model *Park Gyeong-ree, Park Gyeongree / Kyungri (born 1990), singer, actress, and member of Nine Muses (group), Nine Muses *Jihoon, Park Ji-hoon (born 2000), leader, vocalist, dancer, member of Treasure (band), Treasure *Jimin, Park Jimin (born 1995), singer, songwriter, dancer, and member of BTS *Park Jong-cheol, South Korean democratization activist *Thunder (singer), Park Sanghyun / Thunder (born 1990), singer-songwriter, actor, model, and former member of MBLAQ *Sandara Park (born 1984), singer, actress, and former member of 2NE1 *Park Soo-ah, Park Sooah / Lizzy (born 1992), singer, actress, and member of After School (group), After School and Orange Caramel *Hyomin, Park Sunyoung / Hyomin (born 1989), singer, songwriter, actress, fashion designer, and member of T-ara *Samantha Futerman (born 1987), South Korean-born American actress, writer, director, and activist. *Seo Yu-na, Seo Yuna (born 1992), singer, songwriter, actress, producer, yoga instructor and former member of AOA (group), AOA *Son Dong-woon, Son Dongwoon (born 1991), singer, songwriter, actor, and member of Highlight (band), Highlight *Song Seung-hyun, Song Seunghyun (born 1992), singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor, and former member of F.T. Island *Shin Bong-sun (born 1980), comedian *Jessica Seobyn Ryu (born 2000), beauty queen; Miss Korea 2024 *Park Woo-jin (born 1999), rapper, singer, dancer, songwriter, a former member of Wanna One, member of AB6IX *Yang Hyo-jin (born in 1989), a former member of the South Korean women's national volleyball team *Yang Jeong-in / I.N (born 2001), vocalist, member of Stray Kids *Im Si-wan, Yim Siwan (born 1988), singer, actor, and former member of ZE:A *Yoo Jae-myung, Yoo Jaemyung (born 1973), actor *Yoo Kang-min (born 2003), singer, member of Verivery, VERIVERY *Song Kang-ho, Song kang-ho (born 1967), an actor, The lead role in the movie Parasite (2019 film), Parasite.

Notes

References

Citations

Bibliography

*. *.

External links

*
Visit Busan: The Official Travel Guide to Busan Metropolitan CityAll 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