Busan

Busan is a city in South Gyeongsang, South Korea. Pusan Metropolitan City is also known as Busan. It is the largest port city in the Republic of Korea. Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis, after Seoul having population of about 3.65 million. It is situated in the narrow Nakdonggang valley, with mountains separating some of the various districts. Pusan is the so-called summer capital of Korea since it attracts tourists from all over the country to its six beaches.

Pusan had the honor of hosting the 2002 Asian Games and APEC 2005. During 2002 FIFA World Cup, It also hosted foot ball matches. Pusan is known as the center for international conventions in Korea. Administratively, it is designated as a Metropolitan.

On the western side, Geumjeongsan is located. The Pusan residents enjoy weekend hiking at this spot. To the north, the neighborhoods around Pusan National University have student theaters, cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as open-air cultural street performances on weekend nights.

Tongdosa 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 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. Chungyeolsa is a Confucian shrine for soldiers who died during the eighteenth century battle against the Japanese at Dongnae castle.

Pusan lures tourists from all over the country to its six beaches. High class hotels and a carnival boardwalk line the Haeundae Beach district. These are one of the most beautiful beaches in Korea. 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.

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. Many cafes, bars, shops and restaurants are easily found in these areas. Jagalchi Market is an area of narrow street stalls and is popular for its fish market. Taejongdae, is a natural park with magnificent cliffs facing the open sea on the island of Yeongdo.

"Foreigners' Shopping Street" area, commonly referred to as "Texas 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 Pusan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority 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, Pusan is ranked internationally as the third largest seaport in terms of cargo volume and efficiency by the AAPA.

Pusan remained under the control of South Korea throughout the Korean War and for some time it was even the capital of South Korea(http://korea.ixs.net/travel/travel-to-south-korea/index.aspx ). UN troops established a defensive perimeter around the city known as the Pusan Perimeter. Since then, the city has been an independent metropolis and has built a strong urban character.

Pusan has been home to the Lotte Giants since 1982. They play in the Korean baseball league. Pusan is known as the capital of baseball and is a place of very enthusiastic baseball fans.

The city is also home to K-League soccer side Busan I'park, the Daewoo Unicorns. It had earned the reputation of the strongest team during the 1990s in K-league.

The famous Pusan International Film Festival, or PIFF is held in Busan. It is the largest and best-known international film festival in Asia. It lures huge numbers of tourists from all over East Asia and the world every year. Pusan also hosts an annual polar bear swimming competition in Haeundae Beach during the winter.

Busan has become 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.

Busan's Gimhae Airport is used for flights both around the country and some international flights mostly to Japan,China and Bangkok. Keeping in view of its small size, A new international terminal is being constructed next to the domestic terminal. It also serves as an airforce base. Airport limousine buses connect to various points in the city. The trip takes 30-40 minutes if the traffic is good. There are departures on all lines every 20-30 minutes. City buses leave for downtown quite regularly.

For more information about Busan visit: http://korea.ixs.net/cities/Busan/index.aspx

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