Busan
Encyclopedia
Busan formerly spelled Pusan (pusan) is South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...

's second largest metropolis after Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...

, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area (includes adjacent cities of Gimhae and Yangsan) population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....

 city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...

 in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world. The city is located on the southeasternmost tip of the Korean peninsula. The most densely built up areas of the city are situated in a number of narrow valleys between the Nakdong River
Nakdong River
The Nakdong River is the longest river in South Korea, and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Busan.-Geography:...

 and Suyeong River, with mountains separating some of the districts. Administratively, it is designated as a Metropolitan City
Special cities of Korea
In both North and South Korea, a special city, a metropolitan city, or a directly governed city is a city that has a status equivalent to that of a province...

. The Busan metropolitan area is divided into 15 major administrative districts and a single county.

Busan was the host city of the 2002 Asian Games
2002 Asian Games
The 2002 Asian Games, also known as XIV Asiad is a multi-sport event held in Busan, South Korea from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Busan is the second city, after Seoul in 1986 to host the Games. A total of 419 events in 38 sports were contested by 7,711 athletes from 44 countries...

 and APEC 2005 Korea
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries that seeks to promote free trade and economic cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region...

. It was also one of the host cities for the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...

, and is a center for international conventions in Korea. On November 14, 2005, the city officially announced its bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics
2020 Summer Olympics
The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad, will be a major international sports and cultural festival, celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games....

 Games. After Pyeongchang's successful bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, the city is considering its bid to host the 2024 or 2028 Summer Olympics.

Busan is home to the world's largest department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...

, the Shinsegae
Shinsegae
Shinsegae is a South Korean department store franchise, along with several other businesses, headquartering in Seoul, South Korea. The name of Shinsegae literally means "New World" in Korean...

 Centum City
Centum City
Centum City is a major multi-project urban development part of Haeundae-gu in Busan, South Korea. This site is at the westernmost area of Haeundae-gu in Woo-1-dong...

 and is pursuing a large number of multi-skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...

 projects, including Solomon Tower (108 floor, 418m), Haeundae Resort Tower (108 floor, 478m), the 110-floor
Floor
A floor is the walking surface of a room or vehicle. Floors vary from simple dirt in a cave to many-layered surfaces using modern technology...

, 510m-supertall Lotte Super Tower
Lotte Super Tower
The Busan Lotte World Tower is a 110-floor, supertall skyscraper project in Busan, South Korea. The tower is planned on a site next to Nampo-dong station on Busan Subway Line 1 and completion is expected in 2015 at earliest, when it will become the sixth tallest building in the world after Burj...

, which is slated to become the world's third tallest building in 2013, after Burj Khalifa in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...

 and Taipei 101
Taipei 101
Taipei 101 , formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building ranked officially as the world's tallest from 2004 until the opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010...

 in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...

, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...

.

History

Geochilsan-guk existed in the second and third and fourth centuries as a chiefdom of Jinhan. It was absorbed by Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...

 and renamed Geochilsan-gun. The word Geochilsan means rough mountain, probably referring to Hwangnyeongsan, located at the center of the city.

The grave goods
Grave goods
Grave goods, in archaeology and anthropology, are the items buried along with the body.They are usually personal possessions, supplies to smooth the deceased's journey into the afterlife or offerings to the gods. Grave goods are a type of votive deposit...

 excavated from mounded burials at Bokcheon-dong indicate that a complex chiefdom
Chiefdom
A chiefdom is a political economy that organizes regional populations through a hierarchy of the chief.In anthropological theory, one model of human social development rooted in ideas of cultural evolution describes a chiefdom as a form of social organization more complex than a tribe or a band...

 ruled by powerful individuals was present in the Busan area just as the Three Kingdoms of Korea
Three Kingdoms of Korea
The Three Kingdoms of Korea refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium...

 were forming, c. A.D. 300–400. The mounded burials of Bokcheon-dong were built along the top of a ridge that overlooks a wide area that makes up parts of modern-day Dongnae-gu
Dongnae-gu
Dongnae-gu is a gu in northern Busan, South Korea. It has a population of about 300,000, and an area of 16.7 square kilometers. It was once a separate city, the principal port of southeastern Korea. Numerous historical relics are preserved in the area...

 and Yeonje-gu
Yeonje-gu
Yeonje-gu is a gu in central Busan, South Korea. It has an area of 12.08 km², and a population of about 220,000. Yeonje-gu was created in March 1995 following its separation from Dongnae-gu. Its name was formed by taking the first and last syllables of the names of its only 2 legal dong;...

. Archaeologists excavated more than 250 iron weapons and ingots from Burial No. 38, a wooden chamber tomb at Bokcheon-dong.

In 757, Geochilsan-gun was again renamed Dongnae, which it is still called.

From the beginning of the fifteenth century, the Korean government designated Busan as a trading port with the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese and allowed their settlement. Other Japanese settlements in Ulsan
Ulsan
Ulsan , officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring Busan to the south and facing Gyeongju to the north and the Sea of Japan to the east.Ulsan is the...

 and Jinhae
Jinhae
Jinhae is a district in Changwon City, South Korea. This region is served by the Korean National Railroad, and is famous for its annual cherry blossom festival every spring....

 diminished later, but the Busan settlement, called Waegwan
Waegwan
Waegwan is the seat of government for Chilgok County, North Gyeongsang province, South Korea. It consists primarily of the administrative district of Waegwan-eup. It is situated on both sides of the Nakdong River, which is traversed by railroad, automobile and pedestrian bridges.Waegwan is home...

 at the time, continued until Japan invaded Korea in 1592. After the war, diplomatic relations with the new shogunate in Japan were established in 1607, and Busan Waegwan was permitted to be reconstructed. The Japanese settlement, though relocated into Choryang later, continued to exist until Korea was exposed to modern diplomacy in 1876. In 1876, Busan became the first international port in Korea.

During the Japanese rule
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....

, Busan (known in Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...

 also as Busan) developed into a hub trading port with Japan. Busan was the only city in Korea to adopt the steam tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...

way before electrification
Electrification
Electrification originally referred to the build out of the electrical generating and distribution systems which occurred in the United States, England and other countries from the mid 1880's until around 1940 and is in progress in developing countries. This also included the change over from line...

 was introduced in 1924.

During the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...

, 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, as a result the city became a refugee camp site for Koreans during the war, along with Daegu.

As Busan was one of the few areas in Korea that remained under the control of South Korea throughout the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...

, for some time it served as a temporary capital of the Republic of Korea. UN troops established a defensive perimeter around the city known as the Pusan Perimeter in the summer and autumn of 1950. Since then, like Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...

, the city has been a self-governing metropolis and has built a strong urban character.

In 1963, Busan separated from Gyeongsangnam-do
Gyeongsangnam-do
Gyeongsangnam-do is a province in the southeast of South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Changwon. It contains the major metropolitan center and port of Busan. Located there is UNESCO World Heritage Site Haeinsa, a Buddhist temple that houses the Tripitaka Koreana and attracts many...

 to become a Directly Governed City (Jikhalsi). In 1983, the provincial capital of Gyeongsangnam-do was moved from Busan to Changwon.

In 1995, Busan became a Metropolitan City (Gwangyeoksi).

Names

Busan's names include (approved), Pusan, Fusan, Fuzan-fu, Husan, Husan Hu, Pusan-chikhalsi, Pusan-jikhalsi, Pusan-pu and Pusan-si

Geography

Busan is located on the Southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...

. It is located on the coast, which determined the development of the whole city itself. It is the nearest of South Korea's six largest cities to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. The distance as the crow flies from Busan to Tsushima Island
Tsushima Island
Tsushima Island is an island of the Japanese Archipelago situated in the middle of the Tsushima Strait at 34°25'N and 129°20'E. The main island of Tsushima was once a single island, but the island was divided into two in 1671 by the Ōfunakosiseto canal and into three in 1900 by the Manzekiseto canal...

, Japan, is about 49.5 km (31 mi), to Fukuoka
Fukuoka
Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...

, Japan, about 180 km (112 mi), while to Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...

  about 314 km (195 mi). Busan borders low mountains to the north and west and the seas to the east and south. The Nakdong River Delta is in the west, and Geumjeongsan
Geumjeongsan
Geumjeongsan is a mountain in the city of Busan in South Korea. It covers a large surface that extends into Dongnae-gu in the south, Buk-gu in the west, Geumjeong-gu in the east, and the city of Yangsan in the north...

, the highest mountain in the city, is in the north. The Nakdong River
Nakdong River
The Nakdong River is the longest river in South Korea, and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Busan.-Geography:...

, South Korea's longest river, flows in the west of the city and empties into the Korea Strait
Korea Strait
The Korea Strait is a sea passage between South Korea and Japan, connecting the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan in the northwest Pacific Ocean...

.

Climate

Located on the Southeasternmost tip of the Korean Peninsula, Busan has a humid subtropical climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...

 (Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...

 Cfa). Extremely high or low temperatures are rare. May to July, Late Springs and Early Summers, are usually cooler than inland region because of the ocean effect. Late Summer and Early Autumn, August and September, are generally hot and humid and the city may experience typhoons at that time and be generally rainy. On September 15, 1959, Super Typhoon Sarah passed by the coast of the city and caused catastrophic damage. An unusually severe storm on September 12, 2003, Typhoon Maemi
Typhoon Maemi
Typhoon Maemi was a powerful category 5 supertyphoon that struck South Korea, killing 117 people. The name Maemi is contributed by North Korea and it means cicada...

, also caused damage to ships and buildings and resulted in over 48 fatalities.

October and November are generally the most comfortable, with clear skies and pleasant temperatures. Winters are cold and comparatively dry with high winds, but much milder than other parts of Korea except Jeju-do
Jeju-do
Jeju-do is the only special autonomous province of South Korea, situated on and coterminous with the country's largest island. Jeju-do lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of Jeollanam-do Province, of which it was a part before it became a separate province in 1946...

 and several islands of the southern coast. Busan and the nearby area has the least amount of snow compared to other regions of Korea due to its location. Snow falls on an average of only about 6 days per year. Even a little accumulation of snow can effectively shut down this seaport city because of the hilly terrain and unfamiliarity of motorists with driving on snow.

Administrative divisions

In 1957 Busan adopted a division system
Administrative divisions of South Korea
||South Korea is divided into 8 provinces , 1 special autonomous province , 6 metropolitan cities , and 1 special city...

 with the creation of 6 gu: Busanjin-gu, Dong-gu, Dongnae-gu, Jung-gu, Seo-gu, and Yeongdo-gu.

Today, Busan is divided into 15 gu (districts) and 1 gun (county).

Name of Gu (districts) & Gun (county) Area (km²) Population
Buk-gu (북구; 北區) 39.44 313,553
Busanjin-gu
Busanjin-gu
Busanjin-gu is a gu in central Busan, South Korea. It has an area of 29.7 km², and a population of about 410,000. The name is sometimes abbreviated locally as "Jin-gu"...

 (부산진구; 釜山鎭區)
29.69 398,174
Dong-gu (동구; 東區) 9.78 102,859
Dongnae-gu
Dongnae-gu
Dongnae-gu is a gu in northern Busan, South Korea. It has a population of about 300,000, and an area of 16.7 square kilometers. It was once a separate city, the principal port of southeastern Korea. Numerous historical relics are preserved in the area...

 (동래구; 東萊區)
16.63 283,636
Gangseo-gu (강서구; 江西區) 180.24 66,269
Geumjeong-gu
Geumjeong-gu
Geumjeong-gu is a district in north central Busan, South Korea. Approximately 7.3% of Busan's population is in Geumjeong-gu.The Hoedong Reservoir is located on the district's eastern boundary, and the mountain Geumjeongsan on the west. Because of this, 75% of the district's land is restricted from...

 (금정구; 金井區)
65.17 257,662
Haeundae-gu
Haeundae-gu
-Administrative divisions:Haeundae-gu is divided into 7 legal dong, which altogether comprise 18 administrative dong, as follows:* U-dong * Jung-dong * Jwa-dong...

 (해운대구; 海雲臺區)
51.46 429,477
Jung-gu (중구; 中區) 2.82 50,555
Nam-gu (남구; 南區) 26.77 301,904
Saha-gu
Saha-gu
Saha-gu is a gu in western Busan, South Korea. It has an area of 40.89 km², and a population of about 375,000. About a third of the area is forest land. Saha-gu became a gu of Busan in 1983...

 (사하구; 沙下區)
40.96 362,697
Sasang-gu
Sasang-gu
Sasang-gu is a gu in central Busan, South Korea. It has an area of 35.84 km², and a population of about 275,000. Sasang-gu became a gu of Busan in 1995.-Administrative divisions:...

 (사상구; 沙上區)
36.06 261,673
Seo-gu (서구; 西區) 13.88 127,068
Suyeong-gu
Suyeong-gu
Suyeong-gu is a gu in central Busan Metropolitan City, the Republic of Korea. It has a population density of about .Suyeong-gu was created in 1995 following its separation from Nam-gu. It is border in the North-East by the Suyeonggang River...

 (수영구; 水營區)
10.20 179,208
Yeongdo-gu
Yeongdo-gu
Yeongdo-gu is a gu in Busan, South Korea. The gu itself is limited to Yeong-do located on the south edge of central Busan...

 (영도구; 影島區)
14.13 148,431
Yeonje-gu
Yeonje-gu
Yeonje-gu is a gu in central Busan, South Korea. It has an area of 12.08 km², and a population of about 220,000. Yeonje-gu was created in March 1995 following its separation from Dongnae-gu. Its name was formed by taking the first and last syllables of the names of its only 2 legal dong;...

 (연제구; 蓮堤區)
12.08 213,453
Gijang-gun
Gijang-gun
Gijang County is a gun, or county, located between Haeundae-gu and Ulsan in northern Busan, South Korea.-History:Gijang first appears under its current name in the annals of the year 757, during the Unified Silla period. At that time it was made the hyeon of Gijang, part of Dongnae-gun...

 (기장군; 機張郡)
218.04 103,762

Economy

Busan is the fifth busiest seaport in the world, with transportation and shipping among the most high profile aspects of the local economy. Since 1978, Busan has opened three container ports including Jaseungdae, Shinsundae, and Gamman. Busan has one of the world's largest ports and can handle up to 13.2 million TEU shipping containers per year.

The Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone
Free economic zone
Many countries have, or have had at some time, designated areas where companies are taxed very lightly or not at all to encourage development or for some other reason...

 Authority, one of two such administrations (the other in the harbor of Incheon
Incheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...

), was created to reassert Busan's status as a traditional international trading centre. The port attracts ships from all over the globe and the surrounding area aspires to become a regional financial centre.

Korea Exchange
Korea Exchange
Korea Exchange is the sole securities exchange operator in South Korea. It is headquartered in Busan, and has an office for cash markets and market oversight in Seoul.- History :...

 (KRX), Korea's sole securities exchange operator, is headquartered in Busan.

Busan is the home of the headquarters of Renault-Samsung Motor, Hanjin Heavy Industries
Hanjin Heavy Industries
Hanjin Heavy Industry Co. Ltd. is a Korean shipbuilding company, founded in 1937. It is a multinational company, and is an affiliate of the Hanjin Group.- Situation :...

, Busan Bank, Air Busan
Air Busan
Air Busan Co., Ltd. is a regional airline with its headquarters in Beomcheon-dong, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea. It is a subsidiary of Asiana Airlines...

, Korea Technology Finance Corporation, Korea Asset Management Corporation.

Jagalchi Fish Market is the oldest and the largest fish market in Korea.

Busan is ranked the fourth best city after Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo among the Asia's top convention cities in a 2011 global ranking by the International Congress and Convention Association
International Congress and Convention Association
The International Congress and Convention Association was founded in 1963 by a group of travel agents to exchange information on international congresses and conventions....

 (ICCA).

Shopping and Commerce

Commercial areas are dispersed through the city near busy intersections and adjacent to university campuses, but the two largest central business districts in Busan are Seomyeon and Gwangbok-dong/Nampo-dong. There are also four substantial shopping areas of note: Seomyeon, Gwangbok-dong, Busan Dae Hakap in Jangjeon-dong, and Haeundae.

Seomyeon is the crossroads of Busan. The local subway station serves two lines and is one of the busiest in the city. The local head offices of Korean and international banks are located in Seomyeon. It is recognized as the ascendant shopping and entertainment district. Directly adjacent to Seomyeon is Bujeon Market, the largest traditional market in the city. Other companies with offices here include Yeolmae Food
Yeolmae Food
Yeolmae Food is a food company. Its headquarters are located in Gunpo Gyeonggi-do, Korea. Established in 1991, it manufactures many home food products...

.

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 the generations. Jagalchi Market
Jagalchi Market
Jagalchi Fish Market is a fish market in the neighborhood of Nampo-dong in Jung-gu, and Chungmu-dong, Seo-gu, Busan, South Korea. The market is located on the edge of Nampo Port , Busan. The name is said to have originated from jagal because the market used to be surrounded by many gravels...

 is an area of narrow street stalls and is well known for its fish market. The Gukje Market is also located nearby. Jungang-dong is the home of many international law offices, the old Immigation Office, and the international ferry terminal serving Japanese routes. Lotte World II is currently under construction along the water between Jungang-dong 7-Ga and 8-Ga.

Major Department Stores

Store Places of Branch in Busan
Lotte Department Store Seomyeon(Busan Main), Gwangbok, Dongnae, Centum Ciy
Shinsegae Department Store Centum City
Hyundai Department Store Beomil-dong

Major Large Discount Stores

Store Numbers of Busan branch
Home Plus 9
E Mart 6
Lotte Mart 6
Hanaro Club 3
Mega Mart 3

Universities with graduate schools

  • Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS)
  • Busan Jangsin University
    Busan Presbyterian University
    Busan Presbyterian University, also known as Busan Jangsin University, is a private Christian university in Gimhae City, South Gyeongsang province, in southeastern South Korea...

  • Busan National University of Education
    Busan National University of Education
    The Busan National University of Education is a government-supported institution which provides training for future public-school teachers in South Korea. The campus is located in the Yeonje-gu district of Busan Metropolitan City. The university offers graduate and undergraduate programs, and...

  • Catholic University of Pusan
    Catholic University of Pusan
    The Catholic University of Pusan is situated in the southeastern South Korean port city of Busan. The current president is Son Sam-seok. The university is traditionally focused on nursing and health sciences, but in addition to these fields it includes schools of environmental science, business...

  • Dongmyung University
  • Dongseo University
    Dongseo University
    Dongseo University is a major private university in the South Korean port city of Busan. About 300 full time faculty members and 600 instructors are employed. The current president is Dong Soon Park . It has 10,000 full time undergraduate students 500 graduate school students.-Four Educational...

  • Dong-A University
    Dong-A University
    Dong-A University is a major private university in Korea. The university's campuses are based in Greater Busan, the second-largest city in South Korea. About 19,000 students are enrolled...

  • Dong-eui University
    Dong-eui University
    Dong-eui University is one of the leading private university in Busan, a metropolitan city on the southeastern coast of South Korea. Busan is the second largest city in Korea and the population of metropolitan area exceeds 4.5 million. The University has 10 colleges, 116 master and doctoral...

  • Inje University
    Inje University
    Inje University is a private university founded in 1932, located in Gimhae, Korea. As of Aug, 2009, it had 874 faculty members and 230 staffs in total, 14,373 Undergraduate students and 1,458 Graduate students. The University has 6 colleges and 5 graduate schools. The founding mission is to save...

     – Pusan Campus
  • Kosin University
    Kosin University
    Kosin university is a private Christian university in Busan, Republic of Korea. The name Kosin is derived from the name of a denominaton of presbyterian churches in Korea that had resisted the empire of Japan...

  • Korea Maritime University
    Korea Maritime University
    Korea Maritime University is a South Korean national university for maritime study and transportation engineering. It is located in Yeongdo-gu in Busan.-History:The university was established in November 1945 after Korea was liberated from Japanese occupation...

  • Kyungsung University
    Kyungsung University
    Kyungsung University is a private university in Busan, South Korea. It is situated in the district of Nam-gu, southwest of the famous Haeundae beach...

  • Pukyong National University
    Pukyong National University
    Pukyong National University is a national university located in Busan, South Korea. The university has two campuses - Daeyeon-dong and Yongdang-dong. These campuses are situated near coastal district of Nam-gu. The location itself suggests that Pukyong University has a strong traditional focus on...

     (PKNU)
  • Pusan National University
    Pusan National University
    Pusan National University is one of ten flagship Korean national universities and a leading university in South Korea...

     (PNU)
  • Silla University
  • Youngsan University
    Youngsan University
    Youngsan University is a private university in southeastern South Korea. It operates a main campus in Yangsan City, South Gyeongsang province, a branch campus in nearby Busan, and an "auxiliary learning center" in Seoul. Youngsan offers undergraduate degrees in various practical fields, including...


Other institutes of higher education

  • Busan Arts College
    Busan Arts College
    Busan Arts College provides training in a range of fine and applied arts. The campus is located in the Nam-gu district of Busan metropolitan city, in southeastern South Korea...

  • Busan College of Information Technology
    Busan College of Information Technology
    Busan College of Information Technology, also Busan Info-Tech College, is situated in the Buk-gu district of Busan metropolitan city, in southeastern South Korea. It employs about 105 instructors, and enrolls about 5,000 students...

  • Busan Kyungsang College
    Busan Kyungsang College
    Busan Kyungsang College is a college located in the Yeonje-gu district of Busan Metropolitan City, in southeastern South Korea. The current president is Park, Seok-Yong...

  • Busan Polytechnic College
    Busan Polytechnic College
    Busan Polytechnic College, formerly Busan IT Polytechnic College, is a private two-year technical college in southeastern South Korea. The campus is situated in the Buk-gu district of Busan Metropolitan City. The school's current president is Jo Yong-ho...

  • Daedong College
    Daedong College
    Daedong College is a private technical college in Busan, the second-largest city in South Korea. Its campus lies in the district of Geumjeong-gu. About 50 instructors are employed...

  • Dong-Pusan College
    Dong-Pusan College
    Dong-Pusan College is a private technical college in Busan, a major city in South Korea. It employs about 65 instructors.-Academics:The college offers technical instruction in the fields of business, tourism, computers, design, welfare and childhood, and health.-History:The college opened in 1979...

  • Dongju College
    Dongju College
    Dongju College is a private technical college in Busan, South Korea. About 110 instructors are employed.-Academics:Dongju College offers instruction in the fields of health and social welfare, hotel and tourism management, early childhood education, information technology, and design.-History:The...

  • Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology
    Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology
    The Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology, or KIMFT, is a maritime education and research institute operated by the government of South Korea. It is based in Yeongdang-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, with an auxiliary campus on Yeongdo island near Busan Port...


Foreign Schools


Culture and Attractions

Busan, not only features a variety of antique and souvenir shops, but also unique restaurants, attractions and accommodations.

Parks, beaches, and resorts


Geumjeongsan
Geumjeongsan
Geumjeongsan is a mountain in the city of Busan in South Korea. It covers a large surface that extends into Dongnae-gu in the south, Buk-gu in the west, Geumjeong-gu in the east, and the city of Yangsan in the north...

 to the west is a popular weekend hiking spot for Busan residents. To the north, the neighborhoods around Pusan National University
Pusan National University
Pusan National University is one of ten flagship Korean national universities and a leading university in South Korea...

 (also known as PNU, which is one of the most highly recognized national institutes of higher education in Korea) have student theaters, cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as open-air cultural street performances on weekend nights. Nearby is Beomeosa
Beomeosa
Beomeosa is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism in Cheongnyong-dong, Geumjeong-gu, Busan, South Korea. Built on the slopes of Geumjeongsan, it is one of the country's leading urban temples.- Origin :...

, the city's main Korean Buddhist
Korean Buddhism
Korean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what it sees as inconsistencies in Mahayana Buddhism. Early Korean monks believed that the traditions they received from foreign countries were internally inconsistent. To address this, they developed a new...

 temple.

Yongdusan Park
Yongdusan Park
Yongdusan Park is a park located in Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea.- External links :* *...

 occupies 69,000 square meters/17 acre (7 ha) and is home to the Busan Tower
Busan Tower
Busan Tower is a 118 meter high tower located in Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea. Built in 1973....

, Yongdusan Art Gallery, and the Busan Aquarium. The park supports approximately seventy different species of trees and is a favorite tourist desitination, with various cultural events throughout the year.

Dongnae-gu is a wealthy and traditional residential area. Dongnae Oncheon is a natural spa area with many baths, tourist hotels, restaurants, clubs and shopping areas. Many restaurants in the area use family recipes. Chungnyeolsa
Chungnyeolsa (Busan)
Chungnyeolsa is a sacred shrine, where the spirits of the patriotic martyrs in Busan region, who have bravely fought against the Japanese troops in the battles under the Japanese invasions of Korea in 1592 and died heroic deaths, are enshrined....

 is a Confucian shrine for soldiers who died during the sixteenth century battle against the Japanese at Dongnae Fortress.

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
Gwangalli Beach
Gwangalli Beach is a beach in Busan, South Korea. It is located at Gwangan 2-dong, Suyeong-gu, Busan Metropolitan City, west of Haeundae Beach. It sits inside a cove spanned by the Gwangan Bridge and covers 82,000 square meters over a length of 1.4km and a width of 25 to 110 metres, in a curved in...

 has cafes, bars, and restaurants along the beach, and the Grand Gwangan Bridge. The area around Pukyong National University
Pukyong National University
Pukyong National University is a national university located in Busan, South Korea. The university has two campuses - Daeyeon-dong and Yongdang-dong. These campuses are situated near coastal district of Nam-gu. The location itself suggests that Pukyong University has a strong traditional focus on...

 and Kyungsung University
Kyungsung University
Kyungsung University is a private university in Busan, South Korea. It is situated in the district of Nam-gu, southwest of the famous Haeundae beach...

 has many cafes, bars and restaurants attracting college students and youth.

Taejongdae
Taejongdae
Taejongdae is a natural park of Busan, South Korea with magnificent cliffs facing the open sea on the southernmost tip of island of Yeongdo-gu. It is a representative visitor attraction of Busan where has dense evergreen trees and several facilities for tourists such as an observatory, an amusement...

 is a natural park with magnificent cliffs facing the open sea on the island of Yeongdo
Yeongdo-gu
Yeongdo-gu is a gu in Busan, South Korea. The gu itself is limited to Yeong-do located on the south edge of central Busan...

.

The area known as the "Foreigners' Shopping Street", but commonly referred to as "Texas Street" near part of the Port of Busan, and adjacent to the front entrance to the Busan Train Station (부산역) has many businesses that cater to the local Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

n 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. Because of the Chinese presence, the area was designated to serve as the commercial and entertainment needs of American soldiers, and businesses were set up there during the 1940s and 1950s to cater to them.

Busan Aquarium
Busan Aquarium
Busan Aquarium, located in Haeundae Beach, is the largest aquarium in South Korea.There are approximately 250 species and up to 35,000 marine animals on display. The main tank contains 3 million litres of water and the animals can be viewed through huge acrylic windows or from the 80-meter long...

, located in Haeundae Beach, is the largest aquarium in South Korea.
Haedong Yonggung temple is one of 3 sacred places related to the Goddess Buddha. It is located right next to the sea. It lies in a mountain in the front and the sea at the back.

Temples, religious and historical sites

  • Beomeosa
    Beomeosa
    Beomeosa is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism in Cheongnyong-dong, Geumjeong-gu, Busan, South Korea. Built on the slopes of Geumjeongsan, it is one of the country's leading urban temples.- Origin :...

     Temple
  • Busanjinjiseong
    Busanjinjiseong
    The Busanjinjiseong is located at Beomil-dong, Dong-gu, Busan, Busan Metropolitan City, the Republic of Korea. The existing wall-fortress remains were constructed by the Japanese military during the Japanese invasion of Korea....

     Fortress (or Jaseongdae)
  • Cheonseongjinseong
    Cheonseongjinseong
    The Cheonseongjinseong is located on Gadeokdo Island, Gangseo-gu, Busan Metropolitan City, the Republic of Korea. Gadeokdo Island area was strategically important, being located at the end of the sea route from Tsushima islands of Japan to Busan and Jinhae, and thus had been vulnerable to Japanese...

     Fortress
  • Chungnyeolsa
    Chungnyeolsa (Busan)
    Chungnyeolsa is a sacred shrine, where the spirits of the patriotic martyrs in Busan region, who have bravely fought against the Japanese troops in the battles under the Japanese invasions of Korea in 1592 and died heroic deaths, are enshrined....

     Shrine
  • Dongnae eupseong Fortress
  • Dongnae Hyanggyo Confucian shrine-school
  • Dongnaebu Dongheon
  • Dongsam-dong Shell Mound
  • Fortress site of Jwasuyeong
    Fortress site of Jwasuyeong
    The Fortress site of Jwasuyeong is located in Suyeong-dong, Suyeong-gu, Busan Metropolitan City, the Republic of Korea.The Fortress site of Jwasuyeong is the site of the main fortress of the Gyeongsangjwado naval forces during the Joseon period...

  • Geumjeongsanseong
    Geumjeongsanseong
    Geumjeongsanseong is the largest mountain fortress in the Republic of Korea today...

     Fortress
  • Haedongyonggungsa Temple
  • Janggwancheong
  • Jeongongdan Altar
  • Samgwangsa Temple
  • Songgongdan Altar
  • Tumuli in Bokcheon-dong, Dongnae
    Tumuli in Bokcheon-dong, Dongnae
    Tumuli in Bokcheon-dong, Dongnae is located in Dongnae-gu, Busan Metropolitan City, the Republic of Korea. A number of tombs are scattered about this hillside in Bokcheon-dong, which had been excavated partly by the Museum of Dong-A University. But later, through a new survey, the Museum of Pusan...

  • United Nations Memorial Cemetery
  • Waeseong in Jukseong-ri, Gijang
    Waeseong in Jukseong-ri, Gijang
    Waeseong in Jukseong-ri, Gijang is located in Gijang-gun, Busan Metropolitan City, the Republic of Korea. This is a stone fortress built by the Japanese general, Kuroda Nagamasa who was defending this area against the Joseon army, in about June, 1593, the second year of the Japanese Invasions...

  • Yeongdo Bridge
  • Yeonggadae Pavilion
  • Yungongdan Altar

Arts

Busan hosts the Busan International Film Festival, or BIFF, a large international film festival in Asia. It is also the home of the Busan Biennale, an international contemporary art biennale which takes place every two years.

It also hosted the 2nd Asia Song Festival
Asia song festival
Asia Song Festival, aka A-Song-Fe or ASF, is an annual Asian pop music festival held in South Korea, since 2004. It is hosted by Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange and features artists from Asian countries...

, organised by Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange, in 2005.

Museums

  • Bokcheon Museum
  • Busan Modern History Museum
  • Busan Museum
  • Busan Museum of Modern Art
  • Busan National University Museum
  • Dongsam-dong Shell Midden Museum
  • Dong-A University Museum
  • Dong-eui University Museum
  • Kyungsung University Museum
  • National Maritime Museum of Korea – As the first of its kind in Korea, it is scheduled to be opened in May 2012 in Yeongdo-gu
    Yeongdo-gu
    Yeongdo-gu is a gu in Busan, South Korea. The gu itself is limited to Yeong-do located on the south edge of central Busan...

    .
  • Temporary Capital Commemoration Hall

Traditional Cuisine

Busan was once a center of military affairs in the southern region of the peninsula and therefore was an important site for diplomatic relationships with Japan; high-ranking officers and officials from the court frequently visited the city. Special foods were prepared for the officers such as Dongnae pajeon (동래파전), a variant of pajeon
Pajeon
Pajeon is a variety of jeon with green onions as its prominent ingredient. Pa literally means green onion in Korean. It is a pancake-like Korean dish made from a batter of eggs, flour, rice flour, green onions and other additional ingredients depending on the variety...

(Korean savory pancakes), made with whole scallions, sliced chili peppers, and various kinds of seafood in a thick batter
Batter (cooking)
Batter is a semi-liquid mixture of one or more flours combined with liquids such as water, milk or eggs used to prepare various foods. Often a leavening agent such as baking powder is included to aerate and fluff up the batter as it cooks, or the mixture may be naturally fermented for this purpose...

 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 came there. Some of these refugees stayed and adapted and adjusted the recipes of their local specialties. One of these foods is milmyeon (밀면) (lit. 'wheat noodle') a version of naengmyeon
Naengmyeon
Naengmyeon is a Korean dish of long and thin hand-made noodles made from the flour and starch of various ingredients: buckwheat , potatoes, sweet potatoes, 칡냉면, naengmyun made with the starch from arrowroot , and kudzu...

, cold buckwheat noodle soup, but using wheat flour instead. (Naemyeon is originally a specialty food of Hamhung
Hamhung
Hamhŭng is North Korea's second largest city, and the capital of South Hamgyŏng Province. In late 2005, nearby Hŭngnam was made a ward within Hamhŭng-si. It has a population of 768,551 as of 2008.-Geography:...

 and Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...

, the northern regions of the Korean peninsula, now part of North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...

.) Dwaeji gukbap (돼지국밥) (lit. 'pork/pig soup rice') is also a result of Korean War. It is a hearty pork soup and is becoming more popular nation-wide.

Communications

Station Station Type
Busan KBS TV, Radio
Busan MBC TV, Radio
KNN TV, Radio
Busan CBS Radio
Busan BBS Radio
Busan PBC Radio
Busan Ilbo Daily Newspaper
Kukje Shinmun Daily Newspaper

Sports

Sports teams and facilities
Club League Stadium Stadium Capacity Sports Type
Lotte Giants
Lotte Giants
The Lotte Giants are a professional baseball team based in Busan, Korea, and one of the original franchises of the Korea Baseball Organization league. The Lotte Giants are owned by the Japanese-South Korean Lotte conglomerate....

KBO
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...

Sajik Baseball Stadium
Sajik Baseball Stadium
Sajik Baseball Stadium is a baseball stadium in Sajik-dong, Dongnae-gu, Busan, South Korea. It was built in 1985 and is the home of the Lotte Giants. It has a seating capacity of 28,500. It is known as a mecca for Korean Baseball.-See also:*Lotte Giants...

30,000 Baseball
Busan I'Park K-League
K-League
The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The...

Busan Asiad Stadium
Busan Asiad Stadium
The Busan Asiad Stadium or Asiad Main Stadium is a stadium in Busan, Republic of Korea, that was built for the 2002 Asian Games and was also used for matches in the 2002 Football World Cup. It has a capacity of 53,864...

60,000 Soccer
Busan KT Sonicboom KBL
Korean Basketball League
The Korean Basketball League, often abbreviated to the KBL, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in South Korea. Its inaugural season was in 1997. The season starts in October and ends in April the following year. The KBL consists of 10 teams. Each team plays 54 games . Each team...

Sajik Arena
Sajik Arena
Sajik Arena is an indoor sporting arena located in Busan, South Korea. The capacity of the arena is 15,000 and was built in 1985. It is the home of the Busan KT Sonicboom basketball team....

15,000 Basketball

Baseball

Since 1982, the city has been home to the Lotte Giants
Lotte Giants
The Lotte Giants are a professional baseball team based in Busan, Korea, and one of the original franchises of the Korea Baseball Organization league. The Lotte Giants are owned by the Japanese-South Korean Lotte conglomerate....

, who play in the Korean baseball league. In Korea, Busan is known as the capital of baseball and has a reputation for very enthusiastic baseball fans. For the first few years, the Lotte Giants utilized Gudeok Stadium as their home. In the mid-1980s, they moved to Sajik Stadium, which was built as part of a sports complex for the 1986 Asian Games.

Soccer

The city is home to K-League
K-League
The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The...

 soccer team Busan I'Park. They were formerly known as the Daewoo Royals and were a strong team during the 1990s in the K-league. It is also home to National League soccer club Busan Transportation Corporation.

Basketball

Busan also has a basketball team (Busan KT Sonicboom) that plays in the Sajik Sports Complex area of the city.

Thoroughbred Racing

Thoroughbred racing is held in Busan-Gyeongnam Horse Racing Park
Busan-Gyeongnam Horse Racing Park
The Busan-Gyeongnam Horse Racing Park is the largest horse racing park in South Korea. It opened in 2005. It is eastablished and operated by Korea Racing Authority ....

every weekend.

Festivals and Events

Busan celebrates festivals all year round.
Month Name of Festivals and Events
Jan. New Year Festival in Busan, Polar Bear Swimming Contest
Feb. Haeundae Moontan Road Festival
Mar. Busan International Performing Arts Festival
Apr. Gwangalli Eobang Festival
May Busan Motor Show, Busan Port Festival, Busan Contents Market
Jun. Haeundae Sand Festival, Busan Interantional Dance Festival
Jul. Gijang Town Festival
Aug. Busan Sea Festival, Busan International Rock Festival, Busan International Magic Festival, Busan International Kids' Film Festival, Busan International Advertising Festival
Sep. Busan Biennale, Busan Sea Art Festival, Busan Maru International Music Festival
Oct. Busan International Film Festival, Busan International Fireworks Festival
Busan International Fireworks Festival
Busan International Fireworks Festival is held annually in Gwangalli Beach, Busan, South Korea. Tens of thousands of fireworks and state-of-the-art lasers light up the sky in harmony with the theme song of the festival against a backdrop of the sea and 2 level suspension bridge, Gwangan...

, Busan Jagalchi Festival
Nov. Busan Port Lighting Festival, G-Star
G-Star
G-Star is an annual trade show for the computer and video games industry presented by KOTRA in November...

-Global Game Exhibition, Busan Choral Festival & Competition
Dec. Busan Christmas Tree Festival

Medical facilities

Busan has many hospitals and clinics.
Many cosmetic surgery, dermatological, ophthalmic, dental clinics are concentrated in Seomyeon medical street
Seomyeon medical street
Seomyeon Medical Street, which refers to the district encompassing the 1 Km-radius range around Lotte Department Store in Seomyeon and the Buam subway station, is located in Busanjin-Gu, Busan. The Street is home to a total of 160 cosmetic and other medical clinics, including those specializing in...

.

Major Medical Centers

Name of Hospital Number of beds
Pusan National University Hospital at Yangsan 1720
Pusan National University Hospital at Busan 1180
Inje University Paik Hospital at Haeundae 1004
Dong-A University Hospital 920
Kosin University Hospital 912
Busan St. Mary's Medical Center 716
Dong-eui Medical Center
Dong-eui Medical Center
-External links:*...

640
Busan Baptist Hospital 608
Busan Medical Center 591
Maryknoll Medical Center 501
Inje University Paik Hospital at Busan 898
Dongnam Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences Cancer Center 304

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 Seobu Bus Terminal at Sasang Station on Subway Line 2.

134 routes of urban buses service whole part of Busan Metropolitan City. (Busan Urban Bus)

Sea

The Coastal Ferry Terminal serves ferry services to many locations on Geoje Island
Geoje Island
Geojedo or Geoje Island is the principal island of Geoje City, on the southern coast of Gyeongsangnam-do province, South Korea. It is joined to land by two bridges from nearby Tongyeong. Sinhyeon is the largest town on the island...

 as well as to Jeju City
Jeju City
Jeju is the capital of Jeju province in South Korea and the largest city on the island of Jeju. Its geographical location is . The city is served by Jeju International Airport ....

 in Jeju-do
Jeju-do
Jeju-do is the only special autonomous province of South Korea, situated on and coterminous with the country's largest island. Jeju-do lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of Jeollanam-do Province, of which it was a part before it became a separate province in 1946...

.

Ferries leaving from the International Ferry Terminal on Busan Harbour Pier 1 connect Busan to the Japanese ports of Izuhara and Hitakatsu on Tsushima Island
Tsushima Island
Tsushima Island is an island of the Japanese Archipelago situated in the middle of the Tsushima Strait at 34°25'N and 129°20'E. The main island of Tsushima was once a single island, but the island was divided into two in 1671 by the Ōfunakosiseto canal and into three in 1900 by the Manzekiseto canal...

, as well as the cities of Shimonoseki, Fukuoka
Fukuoka, Fukuoka
is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...

, and Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...

 on Japan's mainland.
  • PanStar operates the PanStar Ferry between Busan and Osaka.
  • The Seaflower 2, the ferry to Tsushima operated by Dae-a Express Shipping, carries passengers only between Busan and Hitakatsu in 1 hour 40 minutes and between Busan and Izuhara in 2 hours 40 minutes.
  • The Seonghee, operated by Pukwan Ferry, links Busan to Shimonoseki.
  • One of the ferries to Fukuoka is the Camellia, operated by Camellia Line. The Camellia make the trip to Fukuoka over-night in 7 hours 30 minutes, and trip back in the afternoon in 5 hours 30 minutes.
  • The other ferry service to Fukuoka is assumed by the Beetles and the Kobees, 2 fleets of high-speed hydrofoil
    Hydrofoil
    A hydrofoil is a foil which operates in water. They are similar in appearance and purpose to airfoils.Hydrofoils can be artificial, such as the rudder or keel on a boat, the diving planes on a submarine, a surfboard fin, or occur naturally, as with fish fins, the flippers of aquatic mammals, the...

    s operated by Mirajet. About five departures from each city are scheduled every day. By hydrofoil it only takes 2 hours 55 minutes to cross the Korea Strait
    Korea Strait
    The Korea Strait is a sea passage between South Korea and Japan, connecting the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan in the northwest Pacific Ocean...

     to Fukuoka. The Beetles are owned by JR Kyushu.


This is administered by the Busan Port Authority
Busan Port Authority
The Busan Port Authority is the governing body of the South Korean port of Busan. They are responsible for the maritime and seaport trade and is the leading seaport in the country.-Reference:* , , , , &...

.

National Railway

Busan lies on a number of rail lines, of which the most important is the Gyeongbu Line
Gyeongbu Line
The Gyeongbu Line is the most important railway line in South Korea and one of the oldest. It was constructed by Japan in 1905, connecting Seoul to Suwon, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan. The Gyeongbu Line is by far the most heavily travelled rail line in South Korea...

 which connects it to other major cities such as Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...

, Daejeon
Daejeon
Daejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the...

, and Daegu
Daegu
Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...

. All classes of trains run along the Gyeongbu Line, including the superhigh speed KTX trains which provide service to Seoul in approximately 150 minutes. The Gyeongbu Line terminates at Busan Station
Busan Station
- External links :* * *...

. Other lines include the Donghae Nambu Line
Donghae Nambu Line
The Donghae Nambu Line is a railway line connecting Busan to Pohang in South Korea.The line runs along South Korea's east coast.-History:...

 which connects Ulsan
Ulsan
Ulsan , officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring Busan to the south and facing Gyeongju to the north and the Sea of Japan to the east.Ulsan is the...

, Pohang
Pohang
Pohang is a city in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, and a main seaport in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. The built-up area of Pohang is located on the alluvium of the mouth of the Hyeongsan River...

 and Gyeongju
Gyeongju
Gyeongju is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of 269,343 people according to the 2008 census. Gyeongju is southeast of Seoul, and east of the...

.

Subway

The Busan Subway
Busan Subway
The Busan Subway , operated by the Busan Transportation Corporation is the subway system of Busan, South Korea. The subway network first opened in 1985 with seventeen stations...

 network contains four lines: 1
Busan Subway Line 1
Busan Subway Line 1 is the north-south route of the Busan Subway. It is long with 34 stations. Line 1 uses 8-car trains. The line color is orange....

, 2
Busan Subway Line 2
Busan Subway Line 2 is a line of the Busan Subway that crosses Busan, South Korea, from east to west, running along the shores of Haeundae and Gwangali, and then north toward Yangsan. The line is long with 43 stations, with 1 not operating...

, 3
Busan Subway Line 3
Busan Subway Line 3 is a line of the Busan Subway system. The line was built from 1997 to 2005 and opened on November 28, 2005. The line is 18.3 kilometers long, and has 17 stations. Each train of the line has 4 cars. Line 3's cars do not have doors between one another , giving a unblocked view of...

, and 4
Busan Subway Line 4
Busan Subway Line 4 is a line of the Busan Subway network that connects part of Gijang-gun, Busan, and upper Haeundae-gu, Busan, into Dongnae-gu, Busan. It is operated by the Busan Transportation Corporation. Opened on March 30, 2011, the line is a rapid transit system consisting of 14 stations -...

. All four lines is operated by the Busan Transportation Corporation
Busan Transportation Corporation
The Busan Transportation Corporation was established January 1, 2006, following the abolition of the Busan Urban Transit Authority , founded November 1987. It currently operates the Busan Subway in Busan, South Korea.-External links:...

. The Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit
Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit
The Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit is a light rail transit system between the cities of Busan and Gimhae in South Korea. The line has a length of 23.92 km with 21 stations, and a design capacity of 176,000 passengers per day...

 line connects from Sasang Station (Line 2), Busan to Samgye Station, Gimhae
Gimhae
Gimhae, also commonly spelled Kimhae, is a city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Gimhae is known to locals as "The Paris of Gyeongsangnamdo." It is the seat of the large Gimhae Kim clan, one of the largest Kim clans in Korea...

.

Air

Busan is served by Gimhae International Airport
Gimhae International Airport
Gimhae International Airport is located on the western end of Busan, South Korea. It opened in 1976. A new international terminal opened on October 31, 2007. Gimhae International Airport is the main hub for Air Busan...

 in Gangseo-gu.
Gimhae International Airport is connected by Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit
Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit
The Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit is a light rail transit system between the cities of Busan and Gimhae in South Korea. The line has a length of 23.92 km with 21 stations, and a design capacity of 176,000 passengers per day...


Hotels, Resorts and Spas

Busan has a variety of hotels, resorts and spas.

Twin towns — Sister cities

Busan shares the title of sister city
Town twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...

 with several coastal cities or provinces around the world.
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...

, Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...

 (Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...

) (1966) – Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...

, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 (1967) – Shimonoseki, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 (1976) – Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...

, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 (1983) – Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...

, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

 (1985) – Fukuoka
Fukuoka, Fukuoka
is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...

, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 (1989) – Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...

, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

 (1992) – Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...

, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

 (1993) – Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...

, Republic of Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

 (1994) – Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

n state (1994) – Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...

, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...

 (1995) – Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...

, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

 (1995) – Auckland
Auckland City
Auckland City was the city and local authority covering the Auckland isthmus and most of the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, in the North Island of New Zealand. On 1 November 2010 it was amalgamated into the wider Auckland Region under the authority of the new Auckland Council...

, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 (1996) – Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...

, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

 (1999) – Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...

, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 (2000) – Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...

, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

n province (2000) – Karanganyar City
Karanganyar City
Karanganyar is a City in Kebumen, province Central Java, Indonesia.According to BMG this area with high rainfall intensity. C so that the renowned coolness. It used this city as one of the largest trading cities in the path south of the island of Java...

, Republic of Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

 (2001) – Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...

, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...

 (2002) – Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...

, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...

 (2006) – Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 (2007) – Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...

, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

 (2008) – Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...

, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...

 (2009) – Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...

, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

 (2009) – Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...

, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

 (2010) – Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...

, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...

 (2011)

Sister ports

The Port of Busan also has 6 sister ports (listed in order of dates). – Port of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...

, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 (1978) – Port of Seattle, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 (1981) – Port of Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...

, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 (1985) – Port of Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...

, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 (1985) – Port of New York & New Jersey
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...

, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 (1988) – Port of Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...

, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

 (1994)

Independent cities in South Korea

  • Seoul
    Seoul
    Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...

  • Busan
  • Incheon
    Incheon
    The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...

  • Daegu
    Daegu
    Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...

  • Daejeon
    Daejeon
    Daejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the...

  • Gwangju
    Gwangju
    Gwangju is the sixth largest city in South Korea. It is a designated metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government's Home Minister...

  • Ulsan
    Ulsan
    Ulsan , officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring Busan to the south and facing Gyeongju to the north and the Sea of Japan to the east.Ulsan is the...


See also

  • Index of Korea-related articles
  • List of cities in South Korea
  • Centum City
    Centum City
    Centum City is a major multi-project urban development part of Haeundae-gu in Busan, South Korea. This site is at the westernmost area of Haeundae-gu in Woo-1-dong...

    , urban complex
  • Busan International Film Festival
  • Gwangan Bridge
  • Lotte Giants
    Lotte Giants
    The Lotte Giants are a professional baseball team based in Busan, Korea, and one of the original franchises of the Korea Baseball Organization league. The Lotte Giants are owned by the Japanese-South Korean Lotte conglomerate....

    , local baseball team
  • Pusan Newport International Terminal
    Pusan Newport International Terminal
    Pusan Newport International Terminal is a new port constructed in Busan, in South Korea; it is a joint venture between PSA International and Hanjin....


External links


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