BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA
Date Modified: 06.28.2008
Content: Busan - General Info and Links
Source: Wikipedia
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Population: 3,719,989 (2005 census)
Area: 762.92 km2
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).
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,
which is one of the leading higher education institutes in Korea),
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.
>>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
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