Situated on the most south-eastern portion of the Korean peninsula, Busan is Korea’s second largest city and the number 1 trading port. Busan also boasts being home to Korea’s largest beach and longest river, and is home to the world’s largest department store, theShinsegae Centum City.
Tourists often come to this region to hike and to visit the Buddhist Temples located deep within the region’s mountains. The Beomeosa Temple, founded in 678 AD, is perhaps one of the most frequented temples in the area and is always packed with worshipers and tourists. For art buffs, Busan offers several museums and historical buildings and if scenery is your thing, try visiting the Dongbaek Island, or bird watch at the Nakdong river estuary.
The city itself is sprawling with shops, fruit stands, eateries — both local and fast food joints — and snack bars.
Those who follow the Olympics will know that Busan has hosted such international events as the 2002 14th Asian Games, the final match of the Korea/Japan World Cup, and since 1995 has annually hosted the Pusan International Film Festival. Additionally, the Bexco Exhibition and Convention Center in Busan brings in people from all over the world for international conventions and exhibits.
I only spent a day in this sprawling Korean city which is also btw, known for its shopping — Lotte Department Store, Choryang Arcade for Foreigners, Nampo-dong Street, Gukje Market, and Seomyeon market are a handful of the places people come to see.
I was there in the summer although they have a great fish market in the fall — the Jagalchi Fish market — which is as much about the culture of the area as it is the fish. The Nakdong Estuary Seasonal Bird Migration Site is a famous tourist spot in the winter. Since the release of the movie ‘Chingu’ (friend), which was filmed in Busan, Yongdusan Park and Jagalchi Fish Market have become popular areas for tourists as well.
I walked down Dongnae Pajeon where they have a plethora of Korean style pancakes and raw fish restaurants. While I didn’t have time to take in any of the local museums, recommended ones for your list include the Busan Marine Museum, Bokcheon Museum, Busan Metropolitan Art Museum an d the Busan Museum.
As for me, I took in the shopping and food scene while I was there. Have a walk with me through the city center.
Note: I was hosted by Princess Cruises to Japan which stopped over in Korea at the port of Busan — all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
For more posts on South Korea, check out our South Korean Culture section.
Renee Blodgett is the Founder and Managing Editor of We Blog the World, a global travel, culture and lifestyle publication exploring the world through the lens of meaningful experiences, human connection and cultural depth. Having lived in 10 countries and traveled to 95, Renee has spent much of her life immersed in the people, traditions, landscapes and ideas that shape how we experience the world.
Since launching We Blog the World in 2007, she has written and produced extensive editorial coverage spanning boutique and luxury travel, culinary experiences, arts and culture, wellness, adventure, technology, spiritual traditions and transformative travel. Her work is rooted in the belief that travel is about more than where we go—it is also about what a place, culture or encounter awakens within us.
Renee brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, photography, media, brand strategy, technology, wellness and global storytelling. She has worked with companies and organizations around the world on brand positioning, communications, product launches, media strategy, speaker positioning and storytelling. Through Blue Soul Media, she works with authors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and purpose-driven brands to clarify their message and expand their impact, which includes speaker coaching/training for high-profile stages such as TED and bringing authors’ work to market while retaining authors rights.
She is also the co-founder of Blue Soul Earth, an educational platform exploring consciousness, ancient wisdom, spirituality, healing and the intersection between science and the nature of reality. Renee is the producer and host of the award-winning Blue Soul CHATS, a conversational series bringing together leading voices in science, technology, consciousness, wellness and spirituality.
Her growing body of work also includes Blue Soul Living, which extends her interest in consciousness and well-being into the spaces we inhabit, exploring how intentional design, energy and environment can support greater harmony and connection.
Renee is the award-winning co-author of the bestselling Magdalene’s Journey and founder of the Magdalene Collection, inspired by women’s voices, stories and wisdom across cultures and generations.
A longtime photographer and storyteller, Renee has documented people, places and cultures around the world and produced photographic collections focused on destinations including the Galápagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome and Ecuador. She also co-founded Traveling Geeks, an international initiative that brought entrepreneurs, journalists, creators and technology leaders together with their counterparts in other countries to exchange ideas and explore innovation across cultures.
Renee’s work has been recognized by Forbes, the United Nations and others for her influence in media and social storytelling. Across her work in travel, media, consciousness and culture, a common thread remains: curiosity about the world, the stories that connect us and the ways meaningful experiences can change how we see ourselves and one another.
