Busan

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"Pusan" redirects here. For the Vedic Hindu god, see Pushan.
Busan Metropolitan City
Haeundae_2008.png
Haeundae
Korean name
Hangul 부산 광역시
Hanja 釜山廣域市
Revised Romanization Busan Gwangyeoksi
McCune-Reischauer Pusan Kwangyŏkshi
Short name
Hangul 부산
Hanja 釜山
Revised Romanization Busan
McCune-Reischauer Pusan
Statistics
Area 763.46 km² (294.77 sq mi)
Population (2006) 3,635,389 [1]
Population density 4,762 /km² (12,330 /sq mi)
Government Metropolitan City
Mayor Hur Nam-sik
Administrative divisions 15 wards (Gu), 1 county (Gun)
Region Yeongnam
Dialect Gyeongsang
Location map
Map of South Korea highlighting the city.
Map of South Korea highlighting the city.

Busan Metropolitan City, also known as Pusan[2] is the largest port city in the Republic of Korea. With a population of about 3.65 million, Busan is also South Korea's second largest metropolis, after Seoul. The most densely built up areas of the city are situated in a number of narrow valleys between the Nakdong River and Suyeong River, with mountains separating some of the various districts.

Busan was the host city of the 2002 Asian Games and APEC 2005 Korea. It was also one of the host cities for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and is the center for international conventions in Korea. Administratively, it is designated as a Metropolitan City. On November 14, 2005, the city officially announced its bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics Games.[3]

Contents

[edit] History

Geochilsan-guk existed in the second and third centuries as a chiefdom of Jinhan. It was absorbed by Silla and renamed Geochilsan-gun. The word Geochilsan means rough mountain, probably referring to Hwangnyeongsan, located at the center of the city.

The grave goods excavated from mounded burials at Bokcheon-dong indicate that a complex chiefdom ruled by powerful individuals was present in the Busan area just as the Three Kingdoms of Korea 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 and Yeonje-gu. 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 Japanese and allowed their settlement. Other Japanese settlements in Ulsan and Jinhae diminished later, but the Busan settlement, called Waegwan 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.

Gwangan bridge in central Busan
Gwangan bridge in central Busan

During the Japanese occupation, Busan(Japanese name:Fuzan) developed into a hub trading port with Japan. Busan was the only city in Korea to adopt the steam tramway before electrification was introduced in 1924. Busan, along with Jeju City, is the only city in Korea, with the exemption of Daegu, that was never taken by the North Korean Communists during the Korean War. As a result the city was a refugee camp site for Koreans during the war.

Busan seen from Spot satellite
Busan seen from Spot satellite

Busan was one of the few areas in Korea that remained under the control of South Korea throughout the Korean War and for some time it served as a temporary capital of 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, the city has been a self-governing metropolis and has built a strong urban character.

[edit] Administrative divisions

In 1957 Busan adopted a division system 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).

Administrative divisions of Busan.
Administrative divisions of Busan.

[edit] Economy

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An artist depiction of planned World Business Center.
An artist depiction of planned World Business Center.

Transportation and shipping are among the most high profile aspects of the local economy. Since 1978, Busan has opened three container ports including Jaseungdae, Shinsundae and Gamman. Busan is renowned as one of the world's largest ports and can handle up to 6.44 million TEU shipping containers per year.

The view of Busan from Busan Tower.
The view of Busan from Busan Tower.

The Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority, one of two such administrations (the other in the harbor of Incheon), was created to continue the tradition of Busan's status as an international trading centre. The port attracts ships from all over the globe and aspires to become a regional financial centre. Currently, Busan is ranked internationally as the third largest seaport in terms of cargo volume and efficiency by the American Association of Port Authorities.

[edit] Shopping and Commerce

Jagalchi Market
Jagalchi Market

Commercial areas are dispersed throughout 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 districts with many cafes, bars, restaurants, department stores, shops, and offices. Directly adjacent to Seomyeon is Bujeon Market, the largest traditional market in the city.

The Gwangbok-dong, Nampo-dong, and Jungang-dong areas form the old central business district with many offices, cafes, bars, shops and restaurants. Some of the restaurants in this district are locally famous with family recipes passed down the generations. Jagalchi Market (near part of the very active port) 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. When completed, Lotte World II will house a hotel, department store, entertainment complex, and a skyscraper that will be one of the tallest buildings in the world.[citation needed]

[edit] Education

[edit] Universities with graduate schools

[edit] Other institutes of higher education

[edit] Culture

[edit] Parks, Beaches, and Resorts

Beomeosa Temple
Beomeosa Temple
Busan Tower at sunset.
Busan Tower at sunset.

Geumjeongsan to the west is a popular weekend hiking spot for Busan residents. To the north, the neighborhoods around Pusan National University (also known as PNU, which is one of the most highly recognized national institutes of high education in Korea) have student theaters, cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as open-air cultural street performances on weekend nights. Nearby is Beomeosa, the city's main Korean Buddhist temple.

Dongnae area is a traditional as well as wealthy residential area. Dongnae Oncheon is a natural spa area with many baths, tourist hotels, restaurants, clubs and shopping areas. Many restaurants in the area are famous for their family recipes. Chungnyeolsa is a Confucian shrine for soldiers who died during the sixteenth century battle against the Japanese at Dongnae Fortress.[citation needed]

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 is famous for its cafes, bars, and restaurants along the beach. The area around Pukyong National University and Kyungsung University has many cafes, bars and restaurants attracting college students and youth.

Taejongdae, is a natural park with magnificent cliffs facing the open sea on the island of Yeongdo.

The area known as the "Foreigners' Shopping Street", but commonly referred to as "Texas Street" near part of the Port of Busan, has many businesses that cater to the local Russian 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 as to serve the commercial and entertainment needs of American soldiers and businesses were set up there during the 1940s and 1950s to cater to them.[citation needed]

[edit] Temples, Shrines and other Historical sites

[edit] Professional sports

Since 1982, the city has been home to the Lotte Giants, 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[citation needed]. For the first few years, Lotte Giants utilized Goo-Duck baseball field as their home. But, in mid-80s, they moved to Sa-Jick baseball field, which was built as part of a huge sports complex for 1986 Asian Game.

The city is also home to K-League soccer side Busan I'park, formerly known as the Daewoo Royals, which was the strongest team during the 1990s in K-league. It is also home to National League soccer club Busan Transportation Corporation.

[edit] Arts

a booth for PIFF
a booth for PIFF

Busan is also famous for the Pusan International Film Festival, or PIFF, a large and well-known international film festival in Asia that attracts film-loving tourists from all over East Asia and the world. It is also the home of the Busan Biennale, a well renowned international contemporary art biennale which takes place every two years.

[edit] Museums

  • Busan Museum [3]
  • Bokcheon Museum [4]
  • Busan Modern History Museum [5]
  • Dongsam-dong Shell Midden Museum [6]
  • Temporary Capital Commemoration Hall [7]
  • Busan Museum of Modern Art [8]
  • Pusan National University Museum [9]
  • Dong-A University Museum [10]
  • Kyungsung University Museum [11]
  • Dong-eui University Museum

[edit] Transportation

[edit] 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.

[edit] Sea

Busan Harbor Pier 1 with the International Ferry Terminal (3 docked ferries shown).
Busan Harbor Pier 1 with the International Ferry Terminal (3 docked ferries shown).
Busan Station, in Dong-gu.
Busan Station, in Dong-gu.

The Coastal Ferry Terminal serves ferry services to many locations on Geoje Island as well as to Jeju City in Jeju-do.[4]

Ferries leaving from the International Ferry Terminal on Busan Harbor Pier 1 connect Busan to the Japanese ports of Izuhara and Hitakatsu on Tsushima Island, as well as the cities of Shimonoseki, Fukuoka, and Osaka on Japan's mainland.[5]

  • PanStar[6] operates the PanStar Ferry between Busan and Osaka.
  • The Seaflower 2, the ferry to Tsushima operated by Dae-a Express Shipping,[7] 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,[8] links Busan to Shimonoseki.
  • One of the ferries to Fukuoka is the Camellia, operated by Camellia Line.[9] 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 hydrofoils operated by Mirajet.[10] About 5 departures from each cities are scheduled every day. By hydrofoil it only takes 2 hours 55 minutes to cross the Korea Strait to Fukuoka. The Beetles are owned by JR Kyushu.

[edit] Railway

Busan lies on a number of rail lines, of which the most important is the Gyeongbu Line which connects it to other major cities such as Seoul, Daejeon, and Daegu. All classes of trains run along the Gyeongbu Line, including the KTX trains which provide service to Seoul in approximately 150 minutes. The Gyeongbu Line terminates at Busan Station. Other lines include the Donghae Nambu Line.

[edit] Subway

The Busan Subway network contains three lines: 1, 2, and 3. The network is operated by the Busan Transportation Corporation.

The Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit line is under construction for completion in 2010.

[edit] Air

Busan is served by Gimhae International Airport to the west in Gangseo-gu.

[edit] Sister cities

Busan shares the title of sister city with several coastal cities or provinces across the world.[11]

The Port of Busan also has 6 sister ports.[12]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ 부산광역시 - 선진부산 - 일반현황 - 기본현황
  2. ^ This romanization of the city's name is in McCune-Reischauer. It was used prior to the official adoption of the Revised Romanization by the South Korean Government in 2000.
  3. ^ People's Daily Online (2005-11-14). Pusan to declare bid to host 2020 Olympic Games. Retrieved on December 8, 2006.
  4. ^ Busan Port Coastal Passenger Terminal
  5. ^ International Ferry Terminal
  6. ^ PanStar Ferry, Korean operator of the ferry linking to Osaka, Japan.
  7. ^ (Korean) Dae-a Express Shipping, operator of the ferry linking to Tsushima Island, Japan.
  8. ^ Pukwan Ferry, operator of the ferry linking to Shimonoseki, Japan.
  9. ^ (Japanese) Camellia Line, (Korean) Korea Ferry
  10. ^ Kobee and Beetle, ferries linking to Fukuoka, Japan.
  11. ^ List of Busan's sister cities, Busan Metropolitan City; (English) [1], (Korean) [2]
  12. ^ Port of Busan, Sister Ports, Busan

[edit] External links

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Coordinates: 35°06′N, 129°02′E