[Busan] A second largest and major port city of Korea

by Oh, Ye-Seul (Yeony-Suny Reporter)

8. Busan

● General Information

Busan is a second largest city in Korea. As a major port city, there is a myriad of sea routes offering gateways to Japan and to the rest of the world. Busan also boasts scenic visions of nature with Nakdonggang River flowing in the west adjacent to the ocean at the south. Its landscape includes a coastline with fine beaches, scenic islets and tall mountains. The Pusan* International Film Festival (PIFF) is held annually and attracts movie buffs enthusiasts from all over the world. * Under the new romanization system promulgated in 2000, Pusan is now spelled Busan. The film festival was established before the system took effect, thus the original spelling “Pusan” is still employed (i.e. Pusan International Film Festival).

● Busan Tourist Attraction

① Gwangalli Beach

Address : Gwangan 2-dong Suyeong-gu Busan-si

TEL : +82-51-610-4061          http://www.suyeong.go.kr

Opening date : June 1st ~ September 30th (4months)

Maximum Occupancy : 100,000 people

Parking Facilities : 99 sectors, 2,326 spaces

Gwangalli Beach is 1.4 km long, 64m wide, and is famous for its fine sand. This area has undergone a water cleaning program, and as a result, the water of the beach is pristine. The clean waters of this are also attract many fishermen. You can prepare raw fish dishes on the spot, right after you have caught the fish. For those looking for some action, there is the Olympic Yacht Rental where you can rent yachts. You can also enjoy water-skiing, jet skiing, windsurfing, and other exciting water sports. On the beach there is an outer concert stage where the Busan Ocean Festival and other various events are held. The area has a cultural center, a museum, theaters for plays and movies, an art gallery, TV station, and famous Korean and non-Korean fashion brand name shops. It is a popular gathering place for young people in their 20s and 30s.

② Nampodong

Address : Nampo-dong Jung-gu Busan-si                TEL : +82-51-253-8253

Many refugees from other parts of the country settled in Busan during the Korean War. Busan was designated as the country’s temporary capital city and Nampo-dong was at its center. Since then, people and cultures from other parts of the country have mingled here and this mingling has resulted in a harmonious diversity, among people of different backgournds. Nostalgic memories of the old days still live on in Nampo-dong. Harmony also exists here among the ultramodern urban facilities, the land and the ocean. Nampo-dong is full of humans stories.

 

③ Haeundae Beach

Address : U 1-dong 620-3 Haeundae-gu Busan-si

TEL : +82-51-749-4335, 749-7611~3                  http://eng.haeundae.go.kr

Maximum Occupancy : 120,000 people           Parking Facilities : 4,800 spaces

Haeundae Beach is probably the most famous beach in the country. “Haeundae” was so named by scholar Choi Chi-Won (857~?) of the Silla Dynasty (BC 57~AD 935). When he was walking past Dongbaekdo Island, he was fascinated by it and left the carved words “Hae Un Dae” on a stone wall on the island. Haeundae is 1.5 km long, 30~50m wide, and spans an area of 58,400㎡. The white sand is rough and sticks easily to your skin. The sand of this beach is composed of sand that comes from Chuncheon Stream and shells that have been naturally eroded by the wind over time. Haeundae Beach is also famous for the various cultural events and festivals held throughout the year. At Haeundae Beach there is a Folk Square where you can enjoy traditional games such as neoldduigi (seesaw jumping), Korean wrestling, tuho(arrow throwing), tug-of-war and yutnori. There is also the Beach Culture Center and the Beach Library. Numerous people visit every year from June to August.

④ Gwangan Bridge(Diamond Bridge)

Address : Gwangan-dong Suyeong-gu Busan-si

TEL : +82-51-780-0011       http://gwanganbridge.or.kr

Busan Gwangan Bridge (Busan 66, also called Gwangan Daero) stretches over 7.4km from Namcheon-dong (Suyeong-gu, Busan) to Centum City (U-dong, Haeundae-gu). It is the largest bridge over the ocean in Korea.

It is breathtaking to overlook nearby attractions from the bridge: the endlessly unfolding ocean, Oryukdo (a popular attraction in Busan), Hwangryeongsan (Mt. Hwangryeong), Gwanganri Beach, Dongbaekseom, and Dalmaji Hill.

 Equipped with artistic light, the bridge showcases splendid light that changes every day and every season. The bridge offers majesty beauty combined with nearby attractions during the day and a romantic atmosphere at night, attracting many residents and tourists.

⑤ Jagalchi Market

Address : Nampodong 4-ga 37-1 Jung-gu Busan-si

TEL: 1644-0082       http://www.jagalchimarket.org   http://tour.bsjunggu.go.kr

The Jagalchi Market is Korea’s largest seafood market. After the Korean War the market solidified itself as a fish market. Most of the people who sell fish are women, so the women who sell here are called ‘Jagalchi Ajumma,’ ‘ajumma’ meaning middle-aged or married women.

This market represents Busan and is famous throughout the country. If you visit you can eat fresh raw fish right at the market. Even these days you can see women selling mackerel, sea squirts (ascidians) and whale meat on wooden boxes along the road.

Every year in October the Jagalchi Cultural Tourism Festival is held, and it is easy to visit because of the convenient transportation provided by the subway. The Jagalchi Market is where you can see the lifestyle of the indigenous Busan natives.

⑥ Taejongdae Resort Park

Address : Dongsam-dong San 29-1 Yeongdo-gu Busan-si

TEL : +82-51-405-2004     OPEN : 09:00 – 18:00    Admission Fee | Free

http://www.taejongdae.or.kr      http://etour.busan.go.kr

* Monuments No.17

Designated as a Busan monument, along with Oryukdo Island, Taejongdae represents Busan, and is especially famous for its rock beach. Featuring its highest peak at 250 meters, there are forests of pine trees and other 200 varieties of trees. Taejongdae was named after the 29th king of Silla Dynasty BC57~AD 935), King TaeJong Mu-Yeol (604~661). King TaeJong had traveled to many places but this was the place he enjoyed shooting arrows. Under the lighthouse of this resort is a rock called Sinseon Rock, named after the myth that gods and goddesses came down here to relax. At this rock is a figure called Mangbuseok, named after the story of a woman who waited for her husband who had been taken to Japan. Taejongdae is also famous for the ritual of praying for rain, performed when there are droughts, and rain on the 10th of lunar May is called the ‘Taejong Rain’. On days with clear skies you can see Japan’s Daema Island from the observatory.

Category : Travel around Korea
Tags : , , , , , , , , , , , ,