A timeless city

Wander through artistic alleyways and along modern beachfronts in South Korea’s second city — a place where tradition and innovationgo hand in hand.

- Chris Tharp

Busan has transformed into a lively modern metropolis — a centre for commerce, culture and technology, having once had a reputation for being a rough-and-tumble maritime hub. Pockets of the old port town, however, still remain thriving neighbourhoods where the past rubs shoulders with the bright, shiny and new. From colourful hillside villages to bustling beachside strips, each of Busan’s local districts offer its own unique flavour and a window into what makes the city tick. Combine this with fresh seafood and an emerging restaurant and bar scene, and it’s no wonder people are starting to take notice. Here are four of the city’s most exciting districts.

1 HAEUNDAE

Haeundae is a district synonymous with its beach, a mile-long stretch of sand where travellers can experience the tranquillity of the ocean while strolling through a modern cityscape. This area is one of the Busan’s main tourist attractions, located on the eastern side of the city, at the southern tip of the Korean peninsula. Seagulls soar, swoop and squawk as some of the city’s newest and loftiest buildings gaze out across the rolling waves. These include the Haeundae LCT The Sharp which opened in 2019, consisting of three skyscrapers. The tallest building features a 98th-floor observatory (Busan X the Sky) offering an eagle’s-eye view of the East Sea, as well as the tightly packed urban district surrounding it. 

The Haeundae Beach Train (also called the Sky Capsule) offers breathtaking views of Dongbu Mountain Left: Gamcheon Culture Village