Busan

Busan Metropolitan City
Korean name
Revised Romanization	Busan Gwangyeoksi
McCune-Reischauer	Pusan Kwangyŏksi
Hangul	부산 광역시
Hanja	釜山廣域市
Short name	Busan (Pusan; 부산; 釜山)
Statistics
Population	3,719,989 (2005 census) [1]
Area	762.92 km²
Government	Metropolitan City
Administrative divisions	15 wards (Gu), 1 county (Gun)
Region	Yeongnam
Dialect	Gyeongsang
Location map

Busan Metropolitan City, also commonly referred to as Pusan, is the largest harbor city in Korea, with a population of about four million, Busan is South Korea's second largest metropolis next to Seoul. The densely populated city is situated in the narrow Nakdong River valley, with mountains separating some of the various districts. Busan is located at 35°6'10" North, 129°2'25" East (35.102778, 129.040278). [2]

Busan was the host city of the 2002 Asian Games and APEC 2005. It was also one of the host cities for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Governmentally, Busan is designated as a Metropolitan City in the southeast of South Korea. On November 14, 2005, the city officially announced its bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics Games.

Geumjeong Mountain to the west is a popular weekend hiking spot for Busan residents. To the north, the neighborhoods around Busan National University (also known as Pusan National University), are student theaters, cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as open-air cultural street performances on some weekends. Tongdo-sa is one of the major three Buddhist temples in Korea. Another temple, Beomeosa, is also very important in Korean Buddhism.

Dongnae area is a traditional, rich residential area. Dongnae Onchon 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. Chungyulsa is a Confucian shrine for soldiers who died during the 18th century battle against the Japanese at Dongnae castle.

Busan is the so-called summer capital of Korea since it attracts tourists from all over the country to its six beaches. High class hotels and a carnival boardwalk line the Haeundae Beach district, which is generally regarded as the most beautiful beach in Korea. Gwangan Beach is famous for its cafes, bars and restaurants along the beach. The area around Pukyung National University and Kyungsung University has many cafes, bars and restaurants attracting college students and youth.

Seomyeon is recognized as the new downtown with many cafes, bars, restaurants, shops and shopping centers.

The Gwangbok-dong and Nampo-dong areas form the old downtown with many cafes, bars, shops and restaurants. Some of the restaurants in the area are famous with family recipes passed down the generations. Jagalchi Market (near the very active port) is an area of narrow street stalls and is well known for its fish market. Taejongdae is a natural park with magnificent cliffs facing the open sea on the island of Youngdo.

The area known as the "Foreigners' Shopping Street", near the main docks, has many Russian businesses that cater to the local Russian population, as well as the crews of foreign ships. The area was originally known as the Foreigners' Street because many businesses were set up there during the 1940s and 1950s to cater for American soldiers in the area. 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 center. It now attracts ships from all over the globe and aspires to become a regional financial center. Currently, Busan is ranked internationally as the third largest seaport in terms of cargo volume and efficiency by the AAPA.

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 was the capital of South 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 an independent metropolis and has built a strong urban character.

Busan is famous for its passionate people and entertainment features. As an international habour city, Busan quickly adopts new trends from abroad, especially from Japan.

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 and its distinctive, energetic cheering style for the home team, the Lotte Giants.

The city is also home to K-League soccer side Busan I'park, the Daewoo Unicorns, which was the strongest team during the 90's in K-league.

Busan is also famous for the Pusan International Film Festival, or PIFF, which is the largest and best-known international film festival in Asia and annually attracts huge numbers of toursts from all over East Asia and the world. Busan also hosts an annual polar bear swimming competition in Haeundae Beach during the winter.

Busan continues to be an important educational, cultural and economic center for the nation. Its beautiful beaches, festivals and glittering nightlife make it a popular destination for many tourists.

Administrative divisions

Busan is divided into 15 wards ("Gu") and 1 county ("Gun").

• Buk-gu (북구; 北區)
• Busanjin-gu (부산진구; 釜山鎭區)
• Dong-gu (동구; 東區)
• Dongnae-gu (동래구; 東萊區)
• Gangseo-gu (강서구; 江西區)
• Geumjeong-gu (금정구; 金井區)
• Haeundae-gu (해운대구; 海雲臺區)
• Jung-gu (중구; 中區)
• Nam-gu (남구; 南區)
• Saha-gu (사하구; 沙下區)
• Sasang-gu (사상구; 沙上區)
• Seo-gu (서구; 西區)
• Suyeong-gu (수영구; 水營區)
• Yeongdo-gu (영도구; 影島區)
• Yeonje-gu (연제구; 蓮堤區)
• Gijang-gun (기장군; 機張郡)

History

Geochilsan-guk existed in the 2nd century and the 3rd century as a nation included to Jinhan. Geochilsan-guk was absorbed by Silla and renamed Geochilsan-gun. The word Geochilsan means rough mountain. It is considered that it was named after the old name of Hwangryeong-san, located at the center of the city. In 757 Kochilsan-gun was again renamed Dongnae, which it is still called.

From the beginning of the 15th century onwards, 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.

During the Japanese occupation, Busan developed into a hub trading port with Japan. Busan was also the only city in Korea to adopt the steam tramway before electrification was introduced in 1924.

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.

Transportation

Ferries connect Pusan with Shimonoseki (Kanpu Ferry), Fukuoka and Hiroshima in Japan. There are also ferry services to China. The ferry to Fukuoka is the Beetle, a high-speed hydrofoil run by JR Kyushu. It takes about 2 hours 55 minutes to cross the Korea Strait, located between Korea and Japan.

Busan is served by Gimhae International Airport in the west.

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 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.

There are three subway lines, Line number 1, Line number 2, and Line number 3.

Higher education in Busan

Universities with graduate schools

• Pusan National University
• Pukyong National University
• Korea Maritime University
• Busan National University of Education
• Dong-A University
• Dong-eui University
• Kyungsung University
• Silla University
• Pusan University of Foreign Studies
• Dongseo University
• Tongmyong University of Information Technology
• Kosin University
• Catholic University of Pusan
• Busan Jangsin University
• Youngsan University

Other institutes of higher education

• Busan Arts College
• Busan College of Information Technology
• Busan Kyungsang College
• Busan Polytechnic College
• Dong-Pusan College
• Dongju College
• Daedong College
• Kyungnam College of Information and Technology
• Pusan Arts College
• Pusan Women's College
• Tongmyong College