Busan (Korean: 부산 , Hanja: 釜山, Pusan, Japanese: 釜山, Fusan) is a
port city in the southeastern province of Gyeongsangnam-do, but is
politically an independent unit. The expansion of the city and port
only began after Korea opened up and Japanese administration began
after 1905, so nothing really old has survived.
During the
Korean War, Busan was the largest city that was never under the
control of fighters from the north. As a result, Busan became a
bridgehead for the UN troops led by the Americans. As the only major
Korean city, it was not necessary to bomb the place. Busan is
currently the second largest city in South Korea with almost 3½
million inhabitants and is therefore in particular competition with
Seoul.
Busan is divided into 16 districts (Gu) and one county (Gun).
Gijang-gun (기장군, Hanja: 機張郡)
Buk-gu (북구, Hanja: 北區)
Busanjin-gu (부산진구, Hanja: 釜山鎭區), directly south of it:
Transport hub
with train station and harbor is Dong-gu (동구, Hanja: 東區)
Dongnae-gu
(동래구, Hanja: 東萊區)
Gangseo-gu (강서구, Hanja: 江西區) is industrially
influenced.
Geumjeong-gu (금정구, Hanja: 金井區)
Haeundae-gu is known
for its beach (해운대구, Hanja: 海雲臺區)
Jung-gu (중구, Hanja: 中區)
Nam-gu
(남구, Hanja: 南區). The center of this district is around the Kyungsung
University subway station. This is where business and cultural life
takes place.
Saha-gu (사하구, Hanja: 沙下區)
Sasang-gu (사상구, Hanja: 沙上區)
Seo-gu (서구, Hanja: 西區)
Suyeong-gu (수영구, Hanja: 水營區)
an island
connected to the rest of the city by three bridges is the Yeongdo-gu
(영도구, Hanja: 影島區)
Yeonje-gu (연제구, Hanja: 蓮堤區)
With approximately 3.7 million inhabitants, Busan is the second
largest city in South Korea, after Seoul. Its metropolitan area has
8,650,434 inhabitants in 2021, making it the second most populous in the
country.
Jagalchi (ko) Market (자갈치 시장) (near the busy port) is a
district with narrow streets and many stalls, known for its fish market.
A relatively large part of the population of Busan is of Russian
origin, having arrived during the Soviet-Japanese War (1945) and World
War II, following the colonization (1905—1945) by Imperial Japan. A
district known as "Foreign Store Street" has many Russian shops, and
trade is conducted mainly in Korean and Russian. The area was first
called "Foreigners Street" because many companies settled there after
the Partition of Korea in 1945, during the 1940s and 1950s to supply
American troops in the area.
The Pusan-Jinhae Free Trade Zone,
one of only two of its kind in South Korea (the other is located in the
Port of Incheon), was established to perpetuate Pusan's status as an
international business center. It now attracts ships from all over the
world and aspires to become a regional financial center. In addition,
Pusan is considered by the American Association of Port Authorities
(AAPA) to be the third largest seaport in the world in terms of both
traffic and efficiency.
Pusan is also a very important
scientific center in Korea, with many research institutes focused on
marine biology and technology. The Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic
Agency, the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, and the
Korea Maritime Development Institute are all located there.
Dongnaeupseong is a fortress dating back to the Joseon Dynasty in
Dongnae-gu.
Geumjeongsanseong is the largest fortress in Korea. It is
located on Mount Geumjeongsan.
Chungnyeolsa is a shrine that houses
memorial tablets honoring the Korean patriots who died during the
Japanese invasions of Korea.
Busanjin Outer Fortress is a fortress
that was built in 1593 by Japanese General Mori Terumoto during the
Japanese invasions of Korea.
Waseong in Jukseon-ni, Gijang is a
fortress that was built in 1593 by Japanese General Kuroda Nagamasa
during the Japanese invasions of Korea.
Beomeosa is one of the oldest
and largest temples in the country.
Yeongdo Bridge is the first and
only drawbridge in the country and one of the symbols of the city.
The Presidential Residence of the Provisional Capital was the residence
of the President of the Republic of Korea during the Korean War.
The
Tongsam-dong Shell Mound is an archaeological site consisting of a
garbage heap on the west bank of Yeongdo-gu.
Jungang Park is the central park of the city.
Busan City Park is a
large park in the central part of the city.
Taejongdae is a natural
park in the south of Yeongdo-gu. It houses an observatory, a cruise ship
terminal, and an amusement park.
Song Sang-hyeon Square is the
central square of Busan, the largest square in Korea.
Yongdusan Park
is a park in the center of Busan and the oldest park in the city, also
known as the "Eternal Friend of the Citizens of Busan".
Busan Tower
is the first tourist tower in the country, the tallest lighthouse in the
world, and one of the symbols of the city. It is located in Yongdusan
Park.
List of theaters in Busan:
Busan Cultural Center;
Busan
National Gugak Center;
Busan Citizens' Hall;
Geumjeong Cultural
Center;
Busan Opera House
Philharmonic Hall
Busan Municipal Philharmonic Hall
Busan Municipal Traditional
Philharmonic Hall
Busan Gayageum Orchestra
The Busan Museum (en) presents the traditional culture of the Pusan
region through objects and works of art.
The Busan Municipal
Museum of Art, opened in 1998, is devoted in particular to modern and
contemporary art, particularly Korean. An annex is dedicated to the work
of Lee Ufan.
A museum of contemporary art, called MOCA (Museum of
Contemporary Art), also opened in 2018 on Eulsuk Island, in the Nakdong
River estuary, with a green wall created by Patrick Blanc.
The
Bokcheon Museum (en) is an archaeology museum opened in 1996. It
exhibits remains from the Gaya period, discovered in the tombs of the
surrounding Bokcheon district.
The Busan Modern History Museum
(en) is a museum established in 2003 and dedicated to the modern history
of Busan. It was housed in a building built in 1929 by Japan, and thus
itself serves as a memorial to the country's occupation.
The
Provisional Capital Memorial Hall, opened in 1984 in a building built in
1926, formerly the residence of Busan Governor and later President
Syngman Rhee, presents the Korean War period in Busan and the role of
Syngman Rhee.
The National Maritime Museum, established in 2012,
exhibits evidence of the country's maritime history.
There are 31 libraries in the city, of which the following are
notable:
Chungan Municipal Library of Busan Metropolitan City
Simin Municipal Library of Busan Metropolitan City
Suyeong-gu Library
of Busan Metropolitan City
Bomeosa
Haedong Yonggungsa
Onnyeonseongwon
Samgwangsa
Geunnyeonsa
Taejeongsa
Mahasa
Unsusa
Naewonjeongsa
St. George Church
Busan is a city of one million but has many mountains and beaches in
the city area. These are ideal for outdoor activities.
The
international Busan Film Festival takes place every October. The Busan
Cinema Centre was built for this purpose, an example of very modern
architecture.
Busan has four major beaches in the city area:
Haeundae Beach
(해운대해수욕장), in the Haeundae-gu district. 2km long, extremely popular
beach, whose occupancy in August justifies the term "like a sardine
can".
Blueline Parks (To the Mipo stop: Bus 141, 100, 139, 200, 1003.
From Jangsan subway station, bus 2 or 10 to Cheongsapo. From Haeundae
Beach, go up the small hill around the bend past the 7-Eleven, on the
right.). Revived "retro" railway along the rocky coast between Mipo
(미포정거장) and Songjeong. The park's 4.8km long tram line ("Beach Train")
begins at the east end of the beach. There are six stops. Between Mipo
and Cheongsapo (2km) there are so-called "Sky Capsules," small
rail-mounted carriages for 4 people that travel along the coast at 5km/h
and allow you to enjoy the view. You can also walk the route. Open:
9am-6pm/8pm, July/Aug. 7am-10pm. Price: Beach Train: ₩7000-13000.
Combined packages for both trains: 1-2 people from ₩30000 (one way), 4
people ₩ 80,000.
Busan Aquarium, From the Haeundae Beach subway
station on Line 2 (Exit 3 or 5), just walk about 10 minutes to the
beach. A branch of the Sea Life aquariums that exist worldwide. Open:
Mon-Thurs 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fri-Sun 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Price: from ₩
19,000.
The Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory (청사포 벽화마을) is a jetty
that is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and extends from the rocky coast into
the sea, allowing visitors to view five rocks protruding from the water.
The two rather small lighthouses, one red and one white, nearby are also
considered a tourist attraction. Nearest subway: Haeundae.
Songjeong
Beach (송정해수욕장; subway stop of the same name, in the Haeundae-gu
district). The smallest of the beaches, but impresses with its quiet
location and fine white sand. Due to its location a little outside of
Busan, it may be difficult to find a taxi back to the city later in the
evening.
Gwangalli Beach (광안리해수욕장; in the Suyeong-gu district. Subway
Geumneyonsan). There are a few bars on the promenade of Gwangalli Beach.
When the temperatures allow, alcoholic drinks are also sold directly on
the beach. The nighttime view of the illuminated Gwangan Bridge is also
very beautiful.
Millak Town Raw Fish Center (민락타운 회 센터),
Millaksubyeon-ro 1, Busan (The building is located at the northern end
of Gwangalli Beach.) On the ground floor there is a small fish market
where live fish and other sea creatures are sold. Here you can choose
fish and have it brought to one of the raw fish restaurants on the upper
floors. For around 20k won you get enough fish and seafood for two
people, but you will have to add at least 10k won for the preparation of
side dishes in the restaurant. Alternatively, you can order a raw fish
menu directly in one of the restaurants, but you will miss out on
shopping at the market. Open: 10 a.m. to midnight. Price: upscale.
Songdo Beach (송도해수욕장), in the Seo-gu district
Busan hosts a large number of festivals every year. Some of them are:
Busan International Film Festival
Busan International Fireworks Film
Festival
Busan Biennale
Busan Port Festival
Jagalchi Festival
There are tourist information desks in both airport terminals and in
the main train station.
By plane
Gimhae International Airport
(Kimhae gukche gonghang, IATA: PUS). There is an international (gate
1-11) and a domestic terminal (gate 31-37). Shuttle buses run between
the two every 10 minutes. There is WiFi and luggage storage in the
terminals. There is a currency exchange office on level 2 in the
international terminal, and the post office on level 1. There are direct
international flights mainly in East Asia. Coming from Europe, you will
change in Seoul-Incheon. Open: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. (shops, restaurants
until 9 p.m.).
Getting there
Limousine buses (approx. 6.45
a.m. to 9.45 p.m.), every 30-40 minutes, bus stop 2 int. terminal:
Seomyeon/Central Station, ₩ 6000
Paik Hospital, Haeundae Beach,
Gwangan Station (Suyeong), Jangsan Station (Haeundae); ₩ 7000
Light
Rail (₩ 1300):
Line 2 (green): through Jangsan to Yangsan Station
Line 3 (brown): through Suyeong to Daejeo
You can change to the
subway from both.
By train
The fastest train connections are
the KTX connections. But it is also possible to reach Busan with the
cheaper trains. The main train station is Busan Station, but the KTX
also stops at Gupo Station (구포역, Hanja: 龜浦驛) in the northwest of the
city.
By bus
Nopo-dong Bus Terminal (부산종합버스터미널, ZOB; subway 1
Nopo-dong). Tel.: +82515089200 . Almost all major South Korean cities
have an express bus connection to Busan. A bus leaves from Incheon
Airport to Busan every two hours.
Seobu Intercity Bus Terminal
(부산서부시외버스터미널, Western Bus Terminal; subway: Sasang). Tel.: +8215778301
. Mainly the Cheonil Group's long-distance buses run here.
By
road
Busan can be reached by car on several motorways (e.g. motorways
551, 65 and 10). When travelling by car, an international driving
licence must be carried in addition to the European driving licence.
By ship
The new international ferry terminal, which opened in
2015, is at Pier 4, behind the main train station.
Park Marina
(marina; not far from the eastern end of Haeundae Beach). Next to it are
some of Korea's tallest skyscrapers, which are occupied by luxury
apartments in Marine City.
Port entrance. Entry formalities can
be completed at the marine barge near the entrance to the port.
Ferries Japan
The Japanese railway company JR Kyushu operates fast
ferries called "Beetle" from Fukuoka via Tsushima.
The connection
to Shimonoseki is operated by Pukwan Ferry, from ￦ 95,000 (+ port fee
and fuel surcharge if applicable) for adults in 2nd class. (As of Dec
2022) The "classic" way to get there, however, is the night ferry where
you are accommodated in a dormitory on tatami.
There are other
ferry connections to Japanese cities, including Osaka.
In Busan, the system of street numbering with -beon-gil has been used
since 2013. Details can be found under "Addresses" in the country
article.
There is the Cashbee Card (하나로카드) (comparable to the
T-money Card in Seoul) with which many offers can be paid for
cashlessly. The card can be purchased at kiosks, convenience stores or
subway stations. For example, the following services can be paid for:
Subway
Busan-Gimhae Light Rail to the airport
Taxis
Buses
in Busan
By bus
Busan has an extensive bus network with many
lines. As a tourist without local knowledge, however, it is advisable to
take the subway. These are also much faster due to the high volume of
traffic.
Subway
The rail-based public transport is operated by
the Busan Transport Corporation, which as of 2021 has a clear English
website. Connection between Busan and Gimhae (with connection to the
subway network). Price depending on distance ₩1300 or ₩1500.
Line
1 (red): Dadaepo Beach - Sinpyeong - Jagalchi - Busan Station - Seomyeon
- Busan National University of Education - Nopo-dong
Line 2
(green): Yangsan - Hopo - Sasang - Seomyeon - Gwangan - Sueyong - Centum
- Bexco - Haeundae -Jangsan
Line 3 (brown): Daejeo Deokcheon -
Minam - Geoje/Yeonsan - Sueyong
Line 4 (blue): Minam - Anpyeong
The next subway station is announced and displayed in Korean,
English, Chinese and Japanese, so you shouldn't miss your destination.
Tickets are purchased from the machines, which also have an English
menu, directly in the subway station. These are a bit cumbersome to use,
but there are subway employees at the larger stations who are happy to
help you get the right ticket.
Travel costs are between ₩1300 and
₩1600 depending on the distance. A day ticket costs ₩3500. With the
prepaid card, prices are slightly reduced.
Busan-Gimhae Light
Rail Transit
Purple line: Kaya Univ. - Daejeo (subway 3) - Gimhae
Airport - Sasang (subway 2)
Regional trains
The Donghae line,
which opened in 2016, goes from Busan via Ilgwang 142km to
Ulsan-Taehwagang, where there is a direct connection to the industrial
city's three trams.
There are various regional train connections
with Korail.
East Line (light blue): Bujeon - Busan Station - Bexco -
Ilgwang
Taxi
There are always enough taxis on the streets of
Busan. The journey starts at ₩ 3300, after the first two kilometers ₩
1050 is charged per kilometer. The costs of toll stations may also be
passed on. A 20% night surcharge is usual.
The red and black
taxis are "deluxe" taxis, which are generally more expensive.
If
you don't speak Korean, you should definitely write down your desired
destination in Korean characters or take a business card with you. Very
few taxi drivers speak English and cannot understand the English names
either.
Jagalchi Fish Market (자갈치 시장; in the Seo-gu district, subway line 2
Jagalchi Station). Everyone should really visit the fish market. Here
you can experience a Korea that is otherwise hard to find. It is
colorful, sometimes loud and there are lots of new things to see that
you didn't know came from the sea. But above all you can eat wonderful
fish, drink soju and enjoy Korea.
Department stores
Shinsegae
(신세계, Centum City; subway line 2 Centum City. Buses 5-1, 39, 40, 141,
155). Listed in the "Guinness Book of Records" a few years ago as the
largest shopping center in the world with 293,905m² (now surpassed in
Thailand and China). Offshoot of a nationwide chain of rather
high-priced shopping centers, whose holding company also operates the
e-Mart discounters. There you will find a golf driving range, a fitness
club, a spa, restaurants and a cinema. On the 8th floor there is a
children's playground and a viewing terrace.
Lotte Department Store
(롯데백화점; subway line 2 Seomyeon, subway line 2 Centum City, subway line 1
Oncheonjang). As in all of Korea, the Lotte Department Store in Busan
offers everything your heart desires. As well as a food court with
several restaurants that are not particularly expensive and a cinema.
Dongnae Pajeon (동래파전). Korean "pancake" with spring onions and
seafood. (Various variations) The dish is often eaten as a side dish
with a drink.
Samgyetang (삼계탕). Mild soup (ginseng) with a whole
small chicken stuffed with rice.
The menus are almost always only
in Korean, but you can often find pictures of the dishes, so you can get
your meal even without knowing Korean.
International cuisine can
be found in "Chinatown" near the train station, which has developed into
a "foreigner district" in recent years, where guest workers from the
former Soviet empire also do their part. In addition to numerous small
restaurants, there is also a shopping arcade in the underground.
Cheap
Gimbap Cheongook (김밥천국), almost 20 branches. Gimbap Cheongook
("Gimbap Heaven") is a snack chain (franchise). Mostly older Korean
ladies work here and cook Korean dishes such as Gimbap or larger meals.
The concept works very well, so there are also imitators who have
basically the same dishes but with a different name. Highly recommended
for travelers who have to watch their budget, as you can find a large
selection of freshly prepared dishes here. Price: cheap.
Medium
Hello Sushi, 163 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro, U 1(il)-dong (Near Haeundae Beach
in the basement of the "Benecity Venezia" shopping center. Subway
Dongbaek.). Tel.: +82517467466. Not just sushi, also buffet. Open: 11.30
a.m. - 3.30 p.m., 5.30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Price: from 30k won per person.
The nightlife in Busan is mainly in the districts around Pusan
National University (Geumjeong-gu) and Kyungsung University (Nam-gu)
as well as Seomyeon (in Busanjin-gu). It is also lively behind Gwangalli
Beach (in Suyeong-gu) and Haeundae Beach (in Haeundae-gu).
There
are several bar chains that have multiple locations in Busan. These
include:
Fuzzy Navel (one branch each at Gwangalli Beach and Haeundae
Beach). Fuzzy Navel has several locations in Busan. Popular among
Koreans and foreigners. The bar staff speak good English and serve a mix
of local and international beers, long drinks and Mexican finger food.
Branches can be found at Haeundae, Gwangalli and Seomyeon, among others.
Thursday Party, 31 Dongcheon-ro 85beon-gil, Bujeon 2(i)-dong,
Busanjin-gu (Thursday Party has several locations in Busan). The bar
staff speaks English and serves a mix of local and international beers
and long drinks. The music is always quite loud and there is often
dancing later in the evening. Open: 7 p.m.-4:30 a.m.
WaBar (와바),
110-25 Millak-dong, Suyeong-gu. WaBar is a chain of craft beer bars with
several locations in Busan. Popular among Koreans and foreigners. Some
of the bar staff speak English and serve a variety of international
beers. Branches can be found in Haeundae, Gwangalli and Seomyeon, among
others.
Busan offers accommodation in all categories and price ranges.
Cheap motels can be found in all areas of the city, but especially
where there is a strong nightlife.
Higher-priced hotels in a
beautiful location can be found in Haeundae, on the beach.
Cheap
1 Blue Backpackers (블루백팩커스호스텔), 8-8 Sincheon-daero 102beon-gil, Bujeon
2(i)-dong, Busanjin-gu. Tel.: +8210501939622, E-Mail:
staff@busanbackpackers.com. The hostel is very centrally located in
Seomyeon. Open: Office hours: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., check-in: 1:00
p.m. Price: Dormitory ₩ 20,000, single ₩ 40,000.
There are several
smaller, lower-middle-class hotels in the area of the nearby Bujeon-ro
street.
Middle
2 Sunset Hotel (선셋비지니스호텔), 1391-66 Joong Dong
Busan (The hotel is almost on the beach in Haeundae-gu and on the direct
route from Haeundae subway station to the beach.). Tel.: +82
(0)51-730-9900. Price: Single: ₩ 70-8000; double from ₩ 110,000.
There are several other accommodations in the surrounding area, mainly
middle-class.
Upscale
3 Commodore Hotel (코모도호텔 부산), 151
Junggu-ro, Daechangdong 1(il)-ga, Jung-gu (south of the station). Other
accommodations in the area around the station, aimed primarily at
business travelers.
Lotte Hotel (롯데호텔 부산), 772 Gaya-Daero (The hotel
is very centrally located near the Seomyeon subway hub. Tel.:
+82518101000. Part of a national chain. Check-in: 2 p.m.
Pusan National University (부산대학교, PNU; subway line 1 to "Pusan
National University", then about 10 minutes on foot or with a shuttle
bus (stops right in front of the subway station)). The PNU is supposedly
the best university in Korea outside of Seoul. It offers Korean courses
at various levels.
Kyungsung University (경성대학교). Take subway line 2
to the "Kyungsung University" station and then about 10 minutes on foot
to the university. There is a lively nightlife in the area around the
university.
Korean Language Institute for Foreigners (KLIFF),
Jangjeon 1 dong 388-12, Busan. The institute offers various courses in
Korean.
The best chances of getting a job in Korea (as a foreigner) are
English native speakers. They can easily become English teachers. This
is no different in Busan. Other languages are not particularly in
demand in Korea and therefore the chances of getting a teaching job are
poor. There are nowhere near as many jobs in other fields as there are
teaching jobs.
BEXCO (벡스코, Congress Center), 55 APEC-ro, U-dong,
Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea (Subway: Centum or Busan Museum of Art.
The second hall “BEXCO Exhibition Center 2” is nearby). Tel.:
+82517407300.
Busan is a very safe city. But that is the case throughout South
Korea. Some travel guides report that it can be a bit unsafe around
Busan Station (train station) at night, as there is supposed to be a red
light district here.
Emergency numbers
Police: ☎ 112
Fire
department: ☎119
As is the case everywhere in Korea, the tap water is safe to drink.
Since there is no system of doctors in Korea like in Germany, you should
go to a hospital if you are ill.
Hospitals
Dong-Eui Medical
Center (동의의료원, DEMC; subway line 1 to Yangjeong station (Exit 4) and
then bus number 8 (transfer bus)). Open: 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
German Consulate (독일연방공화국영사관), 24-2 Daechangdong 1(il)-ga, Jung-gu,
Busan. Tel.: +82- 51- 441 4112. Open: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1
p.m. - 5 p.m.
In Busan, like everywhere else in the country,
there are many post offices. In comparison to Germany, there are also
many telephone booths where you can still pay with coins.
Gyeongju is not far away and is worth a visit with its old palace and
temple complex (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Geoje Island
The
island, known for the "Eight Sights", is very popular as a tourist area
thanks to the beautiful sandy and pebble beaches, the camellias and pine
forests and the clear water.
There is also a very propaganda
museum at the former prisoner of war camp Koje
Shards and tools found on Yeongdo Island indicate that people have
lived in the region for 6,000 years. In the early history of the region,
small fishing villages were located here. From the middle of the first
century AD, the area belonged to the Gaya Kingdom. The kingdom traded
briskly with Yamato-era Japan, exporting iron.
In the 14th
century, wokou often plundered Korea's coastal cities, so a fortress was
built at Dongnae to protect the area.
In the following century,
trade between Japan and Korea began to flourish, regulated and
formalized by a treaty in 1443. Busan was opened as a port for Japanese
ships, and a small community of Japanese traders settled in an assigned
trading post, which the Koreans called Waegwan (Korean: 倭館, "Japan
building"). Here, merchants from the Japanese domain of Tsushima traded
with Korea.
This coexistence came to an abrupt end in 1592, when
the Japanese ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi attempted to conquer Korea after
the unification of Japan. On April 14 of that year, he landed with more
than 200,000 men near Busan, thus starting what is now known as the
Imjin War by North and South Korea. The fortresses in Busan and Dongnae
were overrun and 20 days later Seoul was conquered. As peace
negotiations were unsuccessful, a second invasion took place in January
1597, which was stopped by Chinese and Korean troops. The Imjin War
ended when the Japanese troops withdrew after the death of Toyotomi
Hideyoshi in August 1598. Trade with Japan was slowly resumed in the
following period, the Waegwan settlement was reopened in 1607 in the
area of today's Jwacheon-dong, then relocated near today's Yongdusan
Park in 1678 and expanded. This branch, called Choryang Waegwan (草梁倭館),
also had quasi-diplomatic functions. For example, officials from
Tsushima helped prepare Korean embassies that would travel to Edo when a
new shogun took office.
Shortly after Japan was forced by Western
powers to open up, Japan did the same in Korea: in 1875 they sent a
warship that provoked incidents at Busan and Ganghwado west of Seoul.
This forced the Koreans to open the ports of Incheon, Wonsan and Busan
to Japanese traders in 1876 through the Ganghwado Treaty. Other nations
also began to establish diplomatic and trade relations. Busan's
importance as a trading point soon became apparent. In 1867, this made
the Waegwan unnecessary and it was dissolved. In 1888, a telegraph line
to Seoul was completed, which was connected to Nagasaki and thus Japan
by a submarine cable.
Busan was still quite small when Korea was
incorporated into the Japanese Empire in 1910. Since Japanese was the
national language at the time, the city's name 釜山 was pronounced Fusan
in Japanese. During this period up until independence in 1945, Japan
expanded the city significantly: From 1911 to 1916, the eastern port was
built, as were new factories and residential areas. Trade also continued
to flourish. In 1935, 45 percent of the city's residents were of
Japanese descent.
During the Korean War, Busan, along with Daegu,
was the only important city that was never taken by North Korean troops.
South Korean and United Nations troops held the narrow strip of the
peninsula that is now known as the Busan Perimeter. Since Seoul was
quickly conquered, Busan became the temporary capital of South Korea for
several months. Due to refugees from the occupied territories, the
population temporarily swelled to four million during this time.
The Bu-Ma civil protests for democratization took place in 1979. During
the 1988 Summer Olympics, which were held in Seoul, the sailing
competitions were held in Busan. In March 1989, a 109-day strike was
violently broken up at the Hyundai shipyard. The Pusan International
Film Festival has been held annually since 1996. In the autumn of 2002,
Busan hosted the Asian Games and was one of the cities where matches of
the 2002 FIFA World Cup were held.
In 2011, the Haeundae I Park
Marina was built.
The name Busan itself was created because there are many mountains in the city center that resemble cauldrons. The city is divided into several living areas by the mountains. The area around Jungang-daero, which connects Haeundae, Seomyeon, and Nampo-dong, is the city center, while Dongrae, Sasang, Gupo, and Hadan are sub-centers.
It is located in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula and faces Japan across the Korea Strait. The straight-line distance from Japan to Tsushima Island is 49.5 km from City Hall, and to Fukuoka in mainland Japan is about 180 km, which is a considerably short distance compared to the straight-line distance to Seoul of 325 km. To the west is the Gimhae Plain, a flatland on the lower reaches of the Nakdong River, to the north is Geumjeongsan, to the east is the East Sea, and to the south is the South Sea. Administratively, it borders Gimhae-si and Jinhae-gu in Changwon-si in Gyeongsangnam-do to the west, Yangsan-si to the north, and Ulsan Metropolitan City to the northeast. The total area is 769.82 km2.
Busan's topography can be largely divided into the hilly area in the east and the plain area in the west. The east is mostly hilly, 300 to 700 m above sea level, surrounding Busan Port like a folding screen. The coast is a rias coast with a complex coastline, and the coastal plain is not developed, so the flat surface is narrow. The Gimhae Plain, which was incorporated into Busan from Gimhae, is a delta developed in the estuary of the Nakdong River and consists of an average of 60 m or more of alluvial layer that was transported and deposited from the upper reaches of the Nakdong River for a long time, and is an alluvial plain with very high productivity as farmland. Even now, sandbars are being developed along the coastline due to the Nakdong River and coastal currents.
According to Köppen's climate classification, Busan has a climate that is a mixture of a temperate summer climate (Cwa) and a warm humid climate (Cfa). The average temperature in the coldest month (January) is 3.6°C, and the average temperature in the warmest month (August) is 26.1°C. The average annual temperature is 15.0°C, and the average annual precipitation is 1,576.7 mm. It can be said to be the warmest climate in the mainland of the Korean Peninsula, excluding Jeju Island, and deciduous forests such as camellia, which are commonly seen in the eastern part of the Asian continent, grow well. It has relatively dry winters and humid summers, making water resource management difficult, and as a result, the riverbed coefficient of the Nakdong River is quite large. Since it is located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, it mostly rains and rarely snows in winter.
According to a study from 2014, the greater Busan area generated a
gross domestic product of 297 billion US dollars (GDP). In the ranking
of the world's strongest economic metropolitan regions, it was ranked
36th and second in South Korea behind the Seoul metropolitan region.
The city of one million is one of the country's leading industrial
cities: textile and clothing industry, shoe production, food processing
including fish and seafood (large fishing port), mechanical engineering,
marine engineering, vehicle and shipbuilding, wood industry, chemical
and pharmaceutical industry, rubber products, electrical industry
(including radio and television equipment).
South Korea's largest
video game trade fair, the G-Star, takes place in Busan.
Busan's container port was ranked fifth in the world in 2016. Busan
is considered the most important transshipment point for South Korea's
international trade.
There are currently four subway lines in
operation in Busan, see Busan subway. The subway has a subway library
(probably unique in the world), where books can be borrowed from shelves
to read during the journey and then returned afterwards. There is also
an extensive network of city buses.
Busan has a limited
international airport, Busan Airport, with connections to Tokyo, Osaka,
Nagoya and Fukuoka in Japan, Vladivostok and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in
Russia, Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Shenyang, Qingdao, and Hong Kong in
China, Manila in the Philippines, Munich in Germany, Bangkok in
Thailand, Taipei in Taiwan, Guam in the USA and Ho Chi Minh City and
Hanoi in Vietnam. Domestic flights are available to Seoul, Incheon and
Jeju-do. Lufthansa connects Busan with Germany with a stopover in Seoul.
There are international ferry routes to Shimonoseki, Fukuoka (Hakata
port) and the island of Tsushima in Japan, as well as to Yantai in
China. The national ferry routes have been noticeably reduced, but there
is still a route to Geojedo Island.
Like most cities in South
Korea, Busan is very well connected to almost all cities in the country
by many express buses and intercity buses. As the end point of the
Gyeongbu line, Busan is very well connected to the railway network (see
South Korea#Rail transport). The KTX high-speed train travels the
409-kilometer route to Seoul in 160 minutes.