Busan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Busan 부산 (釜山)
Metropolitan city
Busan Metropolitan City 부산광역시
transcription(s)
• Hangul	부산광역시
• Hanja	釜山廣域市
• Revised Romanization	Busan-gwangyeoksi
• McCune-Reischauer	Pusan-gwangyŏksi
Haedong Yonggungsa APEC House Nampo-dong Sajik Baseball Stadium Haeundae Beach Gwangan Bridge viewed from Jangsan
Flag Logo Wordmark
Country	South Korea
Region	Yeongnam
Districts	16
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
Area
• Metropolitan city	770.04 km2 (297.31 sq mi)
Population  (April 2024)
• Metropolitan city	3,343,903
• Density	4,342.506/km2 (11,247.04/sq mi)
• Metro	4,000,000
• Dialect	Gyeongsang
Demonym(s)	Busanian
GDP
• Metropolitan city	KR₩ 104 trillion US$ 83 billion (2022)
Area code(s)	(+82) 051
ISO 3166 code	KR-410
Flower	Camellia flower
Fish	Mackerel
Bird	Seagull
Korean name Hangul 부산 Hanja 釜山 Revised Romanization Busan McCune–Reischauer Pusan Busan Metropolitan City Hangul 부산광역시 Hanja 釜山廣域市 Revised Romanization Busan-gwangyeoksi McCune–Reischauer Pusan-gwangyŏksi

Busan (Hangul: 부산), officially called Busan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's second largest city. It has over 3.3 million people living there as of 2024. Busan is a major center for business, culture, and education in southeastern South Korea.

Its port is the busiest in South Korea and the sixth-busiest in the world. The area around Busan, including cities like Ulsan and Daegu, is South Korea's biggest industrial zone. Busan is also known as a "Large-Port metropolis" because of its huge port traffic and large population. In 2019, Busan Port was the main port in Korea and the world's sixth-largest container port.

Busan is split into 15 main areas called districts and one county. These areas together are home to about 3.6 million people. The wider metropolitan area has about 8 million people. The city is built in narrow valleys between the Nakdong River and the Suyeong Rivers. Mountains separate most of the city's districts. The Nakdong River is Korea's longest river. Busan's Haeundae Beach is also the country's largest beach.

Busan is a popular place for international meetings. It hosted an APEC summit in 2005. It also hosts big sports events, like the 2002 Asian Games and parts of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Busan is home to the world's largest department store, the Shinsegae Centum City. In 2014, Busan became a "City of Film" in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

What Does the Name "Busan" Mean?

The name "Busan" comes from the Korean name used since the late 1400s. It officially replaced the older spelling "Pusan" in 2000. During the time Japan ruled Korea, it was spelled "Fuzan".

The Korean name 釜山 means "Cauldron Mountain". People believe this was an old name for Mt. Hwangnyeong, a mountain west of the city. An ancient state in the area was called Mt. Geochil, which also likely referred to this same mountain.

A Quick Look at Busan's History

The area where Busan is today has been lived in since the Neolithic period, which was a very long time ago. People found old stone tools, pottery, and animal bones near the coast. Fishing was a main way for them to get food. Later, during the Bronze Age, people started farming.

Around the first century, a small kingdom called Koch'ilsan-guk was in the area. It later became part of the Silla kingdom. In 757, it was renamed Dongnae-gun. In 835, the famous Buddhist temple Beomeosa was built here.

During the Goryeo period (918–1392), the Dongnae Jeong family became important in Korean politics. The hot springs in Dongnae became well-known. Towards the end of this period, Japanese pirates often attacked. To protect the area, the Dongnaeeupseong fortress was built.

In 1423, the port of Busan was opened. A special area for Japanese traders, called a waegwan, was also set up. This trading post was closed in 1510 but reopened in 1512.

During the Japanese invasions of Korea from 1592 to 1598, Busan was defended by several fortresses. Many people in Busan fought bravely. After the Siege of Busanjin in 1592, many Koreans were sadly killed. After the war, Busan was rebuilt, and trade with Japan started again in 1607.

In 1605, a shrine called Songgongsa was built to honor those who died defending Korea. This shrine was later named Chungnyeolsa in 1624. In 1763, Busan was the first place in Korea to get sweet potatoes, which came from Japan.

In 1876, Busan became Korea's first international port. This happened because of the Treaty of Ganghwa. In 1877, other countries like Japan and the UK set up offices there. In 1883, the port officially opened for more trade.

During the time Japan ruled Korea (1910–1945), Busan became a major trading port with Japan. It was the only city in Korea to use steam trams before electric ones were introduced in 1924.

During the Korean War, Busan was one of the few cities in South Korea that the North Korean army did not capture. Because of this, many Koreans sought safety there. About 500,000 refugees came to Busan in early 1951.

Busan was so important during the war that it served as the temporary capital of South Korea. UN troops also created a strong defense line around the city called the Pusan Perimeter. Since then, Busan has grown into a strong, self-governing city.

In 1963, Busan became a "Directly Governed City," separate from the province it was in. In 1983, the capital of that province moved from Busan to another city.

Busan's Location and Weather

Busan is located on the very southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula. Its location right by the sea has shaped how the city grew. It's about 314 kilometers (195 miles) from Busan to Seoul.

Busan is surrounded by low mountains to the north and west, and the sea to the south and east. The Nakdong River Delta is on the west side. Geumjeongsan, the city's highest mountain, is to the north. The Nakdong River, Korea's longest river, flows through the west and into the Korea Strait.

The closest place overseas to Busan is Tsushima Island in Japan, which is about 49.5 kilometers (31 miles) away. The closest part of mainland Japan is Fukuoka, about 180 kilometers (112 miles) from Busan. Busan and Fukuoka are "sister cities," meaning they have a special friendly relationship.

Busan's Climate

Weather chart for Busan
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
35   8 -0	50   10 2	90   14 5	141   18 10	156   22 15	188   25 18	327   28 22	267   30 24	161   26 20	80   23 15	50   17 8	34   10 2
temperatures in °C precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.4   47 32     2   50 35     3.5   57 42     5.5   65 50     6.1   72 58     7.4   76 65     13   82 72     10   85 75     6.3   80 68     3.1   73 58     2   62 47     1.3   51 36 temperatures in °F precipitation totals in inches

Busan has a humid subtropical climate, which means it has warm, wet summers and mild winters. Very hot or very cold temperatures are rare. The highest temperature ever recorded was 37.3°C (99.1°F) in August 2016. The lowest was -14.0°C (6.8°F) in January 1915.

From May to July, the weather is usually cooler than inland areas because of the ocean. August and September are often hot and humid. Sometimes, typhoons can hit the city during this time. For example, Super Typhoon Sarah in 1959 and Typhoon Maemi in 2003 caused a lot of damage. Typhoon Hinnamnor in 2022 also caused destruction. Busan is one of the cities in South Korea most affected by typhoons.

October and November are usually the nicest months, with clear skies and pleasant temperatures. Winters are cool and dry with strong winds, but much milder than other parts of Korea. Busan gets very little snow, only about 4 days a year on average.

How Busan is Divided

In 1957, Busan started dividing itself into six main areas called gu (districts). Today, Busan has fifteen gu and one gun (county).

Subdivision	Korean	Area (km2)	Population (January 2018)	Map of Busan
Buk-gu	Hangul: 북구; Hanja: 北區	39.36	303,955
Busanjin-gu	Hangul: 부산진구; Hanja: 釜山鎭區	29.70	372,922
Dong-gu	Hangul: 동구; Hanja: 東區	9.73	90,668
Dongnae-gu	Hangul: 동래구; Hanja: 東萊區	16.63	271,350
Gangseo-gu	Hangul: 강서구; Hanja: 江西區	181.50	123,636
Geumjeong-gu	Hangul: 금정구; Hanja: 金井區	65.27	249,054
Haeundae-gu	Hangul: 해운대구; Hanja: 海雲臺區	51.47	417,174
Jung-gu	Hangul: 중구; Hanja: 中區	2.83	45,821
Nam-gu	Hangul: 남구; Hanja: 南區	26.81	278,681
Saha-gu	Hangul: 사하구; Hanja: 沙下區	41.75	337,423
Sasang-gu	Hangul: 사상구; Hanja: 沙上區	36.09	233,443
Seo-gu	Hangul: 서구; Hanja: 西區	13.93	111,906
Suyeong-gu	Hangul: 수영구; Hanja: 水營區	10.21	181,526
Yeongdo-gu	Hangul: 영도구; Hanja: 影島區	14.15	124,918
Yeonje-gu	Hangul: 연제구; Hanja: 蓮堤區	12.08	207,396
Gijang-gun	Hangul: 기장군; Hanja: 機張郡	218.32	164,546

Busan's Economy

Busan is the second-largest city in Korea. It is a major center for shipping and trade in Northeast Asia. It has world-class ports and is a gateway to the Eurasian continent. In 2017, the city's economy was worth about US$83 billion.

The city's economy mainly relies on services (70.3%), manufacturing (19.8%), and construction (5.9%). As the 6th largest port in the world, the port of Busan handled over 21 million shipping containers in 2020. The port has 43 berths, which are places where ships can dock.

Busan is also a hub for ocean science and research. It is home to many important organizations like the Korea Maritime Institute. The city is also known for hosting big events and conferences, called MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions). BEXCO is a large convention center in Busan.

Busan is also a financial center. The Korea Exchange (KRX), which is Korea's only stock exchange, is based in Busan. Many other financial companies are also located here.

Busan has many shopping areas. The two biggest business districts are Seomyeon and Gwangbok-dong/Nampo-dong. There are also four large shopping areas: Seomyeon, Gwangbok-dong, Busan Daehak-ga, and Centum City.

Seomyeon Station is one of the busiest subway stations in Korea. It has many underground shops selling clothes and shoes. Major banks have their offices in Seomyeon. It is a popular area for shopping and entertainment. "Seomyeon Medical Street" has over 160 clinics for cosmetic surgery, skin care, eye care, and dentistry. Next to Seomyeon is Bujeon Market, the city's largest traditional market.

The Gwangbok-dong, Nampo-dong, and Jungang-dong areas are the older business districts. You can find restaurants here that use recipes passed down through generations. Jagalchi Market, a big seafood market, is in this area. The Gukje Market is also nearby. Jungang-dong has many international law offices and the ferry terminal for trips to Japan.

Centum City is a modern area with fancy department stores. Busan has many large department stores like Lotte Department Store and Shinsegae. You can also find big supermarkets like Homeplus, e-mart, and Costco.

Busan's main hotels include The Westin Chosun Busan and Park Hyatt Busan. In 2017, the Ananti Hilton Busan opened.

Learning in Busan

Busan has many universities and other schools.

Universities with Graduate Schools

• Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS)
• Busan National University of Education (BNUE)
• Catholic University of Pusan
• Dongseo University
• Dong-A University
• Dong-eui University
• Inje University – Busan Campus
• Kosin University
• Korea Maritime and Ocean University
• Kyungsung University
• Pukyong National University (PKNU)
• Pusan National University (PNU)
• Silla University
• Tongmyong University
• Youngsan University

Other Higher Education Places

• Busan Arts College
• Busan Institute of Science and Technology (BIST)
• Busan Kyungsang College
• Busan Polytechnic College
• Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology

Schools for Foreign Students

• Busan Foreign School (for students from Pre-Kindergarten to 12th Grade)
• Busan Japanese School
• International School of Busan (for students from Pre-Kindergarten to 12th Grade)
• Overseas Chinese Elementary School Busan
• Overseas Chinese High School, Busan

Fun Things to See and Do in Busan

Busan has many interesting places to visit, including old shops, unique restaurants, and fun attractions.

Parks, Beaches, and Famous Spots

Nampo-dong is a popular area for shopping and cafes. The areas around Pukyong National University and Kyungsung University also have many cafes, bars, and restaurants that attract young people.

Busan is known as Korea's summer capital because many tourists come to its six beaches. Haeundae Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Korea. It has luxury hotels and a boardwalk. The 2009 movie Tidal Wave is about a tsunami hitting this beach. Gwangalli Beach has cafes and restaurants along the shore, and you can see the beautiful Grand Gwangan Bridge from there. Other beaches include Dadaepo Beach and Songdo Beach.

Geumjeongsan mountain is a popular spot for hiking on weekends. To the north, the neighborhoods near Pusan National University (PNU) have student theaters, cafes, and street performances. Nearby is Beomeosa, the city's main Buddhist temple.

Yongdusan Park is a large park with the Busan Tower, an art gallery, and the Busan Aquarium. The park has many different kinds of trees and hosts cultural events.

Dongnae-gu is a traditional area with natural hot springs called Dongnae Oncheon. It has many baths, hotels, restaurants, and shops. Chungnyeolsa is a shrine that honors soldiers who died fighting the Japanese in the 1500s.

Taejongdae is a natural park with cliffs that look out over the sea on Yeongdo island.

The "Foreigners' Shopping Street," also called "Texas Street," is near Busan Train Station. It has many businesses for the local Russian community and foreign ship crews. This area used to be Chinatown and still has a Chinese school.

Haedong Yonggung temple is a special temple by the sea. It is built on a mountain with the ocean behind it.

Gamcheon Cultural Village was built in the 1950s. The houses are built like stairs on a mountain slope. It's often called the "Machu Picchu of Korea" and attracts many tourists.

Busan Citizens Park is a large park that used to be a military base.

Dongbaek Island is at the end of Haeundae Beach. It has beautiful camellia and pine trees. You can walk around the island and visit the Nurimaru APEC House, which was built for a big meeting in 2005.

Huinnyeoul Culture Village was formed by refugees during the Korean War. It offers great views of Busan's ports. This village has been featured in movies and is known for its small, close-together houses on hilly streets. It now has many cafes and workshops.

Millak Waterfront Park is Korea's first park that combines the oceanfront with public spaces. It's located between Haeundae Beach and Gwangalli Beach. It has flower gardens and benches, and you can even dip your feet in the water during high tide.

Daejeo Ecological Park is a large park that is home to migratory birds. It has wetlands and natural grasslands. Many festivals are held here, like the Nakdong Riverside Cherry Blossom Festival.

Ilgwang Beach is a long, white-sand beach that is popular with families because the water is shallow. The Gaetmaeul Outdoor Drama Festival is held here every summer.

The Kiswire Museum helps visitors understand wire, which is important for industry. The museum's roof is unique because it's held up by only 38 cables. It also shows special art made with wires.

Jeonpo Café Street in Seomyeon, Busan is a busy area with many cafes. This street used to have hardware stores, but since 2010, it has become a popular spot for cafes.

Busan plans to build the world's first floating city, called Oceanix City, by 2025.

Temples and Historical Places

• Beomeosa Temple
• Busanjinjiseong Fortress
• Chungnyeolsa Shrine
• Dongnaeeupseong Fortress
• Haedong Yonggung Temple
• United Nations Memorial Cemetery
• Yeongdo Bridge

Arts and Culture

Busan hosts the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) every fall. This is one of the most popular film festivals in Asia. Busan also hosts the Busan Biennale, which is a big art show that happens every two years.

The city also hosts the One Asia Festival, which is Korea's largest K-pop festival. This event started in 2016 and makes Busan a center for K-pop culture.

In 2012, a German artist named Hendrik Beikirch painted Asia's tallest mural, "Fisherman Portrait," near Millak Raw Fish Town.

Busan has about 80 places for performances, including the Busan Cultural Center and the Busan Cinema Center.

Festivals All Year Round

Busan has many festivals throughout the year.

• In May, there's the Joseon Tongsinsa Festival and the Busan Port Festival.
• In August, you can enjoy the Busan Sea Festival at Haeundae Beach and the Busan International Rock Festival.
• October is a great month for festivals, including the Busan International Film Festival, the Busan International Fireworks Festival, and the One Asia Festival (a K-pop music festival).
• In November, G-Star, a large gaming exhibition, takes place.
• In December, the Busan Christmas Tree Festival lights up the city.

Major Performance Venues

No.	Facility	Number of Seats
1	Busan Cultural Center	2,389
2	Busan Citizens' Hall	1,941
3	BEXCO Auditorium	2,644
4	Busan National Gugak Center	974
5	Busan Cinema Center Haneulyeon Theatre	841
6	Korea National Maritime Museum	311

Museums to Explore

Busan has many museums:

• Busan Museum
• Busan Museum of Art
• Museum of Contemporary Art Busan
• Busan Museum of Movies
• Busan Modern History Museum
• Korea National Maritime Museum
• Kiswire Museum
• United Nations Peace Memorial Hall

Delicious Traditional Food

Busan was once an important military and diplomatic center. Special foods were made for important visitors, like Dongnae pajeon (동래파전). This is a type of Korean pancake made with green onions, chili peppers, and seafood.

During the Korean War, many refugees came to Busan. Some of them stayed and changed their traditional recipes to fit the local ingredients. One example is milmyeon (밀면), a cold wheat noodle soup. It's a version of naengmyeon, which is a cold buckwheat noodle soup from North Korea. Dwaeji gukbap (돼지국밥), a hearty pork soup, also became popular during the war.

• 

  Dongnae pajeon

• 

  Milmyeon

• 

  Dwaeji gukbap

Hot Spring Resorts and Spas

Busan has the largest hot spring resorts in Korea. Busan's Oncheon is the oldest hot spring spa in Korea.

• Spa Land (Haeundae-Gu)
• HurShimChung Hot Spring Resorts and Spa Town (Dongnae-Gu)
• Haeundae Hot Spring Resorts and Spa Towns (Haeundae-Gu)

Getting Around Busan

Buses

You can travel between Busan and other Korean cities by express bus. There are two main bus terminals: Nopodong Bus Terminal and Busan Seobu Bus Terminal. City buses run on 160 routes, covering all parts of Busan. There are also airport buses to Gimhae International Airport. Buses from nearby cities like Yangsan and Ulsan also come to Busan.

Airport Limousine Bus

The Gimhae Airport Limousine Bus is a fast way to get from Gimhae International Airport to downtown. There are three routes, including one to Nampo-dong and two to Haeundae.

Intercity Buses

For buses to eastern areas, use the Busan Central Bus Terminal. For western areas, use the Busan West Bus Terminal. The Haeundae Intercity Bus Terminal has buses to Ulsan, Gimhae, and Seoul. The Dongnae Intercity Bus Terminal serves central and southern areas.

By Sea

Ferries from the International Ferry Terminal connect Busan to Japanese ports like Izuhara and Hitakatsu on Tsushima Island. You can also take ferries to Shimonoseki, Fukuoka, and Osaka in Japan.

• The PanStar Ferry goes between Busan and Osaka.
• The Seaflower 2 goes to Tsushima.
• The Seonghee links Busan to Shimonoseki.
• The Camellia and high-speed Beetles and Kobees go to Fukuoka. The high-speed boats take less than 3 hours.

By Train

Busan is connected by several train lines. The most important is the Gyeongbu Line, which links Busan to major cities like Seoul, Daejeon, and Daegu. High-speed KTX trains can get you to Seoul in about 150 minutes. The Gyeongbu Line ends at Busan Station.

The SRT train service started in 2016. It connects the Gangnam area of Seoul with major cities.

By Metro (Subway)

Busan has six subway lines as of January 2017. You can transfer between lines at stations like Seomyeon, Yeonsan, and Suyeong. The Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit also connects to the subway system.

By Air

Busan is served by Gimhae International Airport in Gangseo-gu. You can reach the airport using the Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit.

A new airport is being built on Gadeokdo island to replace Gimhae International Airport. This will be South Korea's first airport built offshore.

Busan's International Connections

Busan has special relationships with many cities and ports around the world.

Sister Cities

Busan is a "sister city" with many coastal cities and regions globally. This means they have a special friendly connection.

Friendship Cities

Busan also has 11 "friendship cities" in six countries.

Sister Ports

The Port of Busan also has 6 "sister ports."

Famous People from Busan

Many well-known people come from Busan, including actors, singers, and athletes.

• Ahn Bohyun (born 1988), actor
• Choi Ye-won / Arin (born 1999), singer and member of Oh My Girl
• Choi Jiwoo (born 1975), actress
• Daniel Dae Kim (born 1968), Korean-American actor
• Gong Yoo (born in 1979), actor
• Hwang Min-hyun (born 1995), singer and actor
• Jang Wooyoung (born 1989), singer and member of 2PM
• Jeon Jungkook (born 1997), singer and member of BTS
• Jung Eun-ji (born 1993), singer and actress
• Jo Yuri (born 2001), singer and actress
• Kang Daniel (born in 1996), singer
• Kang Seungyoon (born 1994), singer and member of WINNER
• Kim Minjeong / Winter (born in 2001), singer and member of Aespa
• Lee Joongi (born 1982), actor and singer
• Lee Jihoon / Woozi (born 1996), singer and member of Seventeen
• Nam Joohyuk (born 1994), actor and model
• Park Ji-hoon (born 2000), singer and member of Treasure
• Park Jimin (born 1995), singer and member of BTS
• Sandara Park (born 1984), singer and actress
• Shin Bong-sun (born 1980), comedian
• Yang Jeong-in / I.N (born 2001), singer and member of Stray Kids
• Yim Siwan (born 1988), singer and actor

See also

In Spanish: Busan para niños