Hidden Side of Busan, Korea

Hidden Side of Busan, Korea

Hi guys, this is SeanP I recently took a trip to Busan.  Busan is the second largest city in Korea and  the foremost port town. It’s a beautiful place   where the harmony of the sea, mountains,  and rivers meets the splendor of the city. 

However, this time, I had several experiences  that do not quite match the beauty of this great   city. What could they be? Let’s find out. On the first day of my arrival in Busan,   I was extremely excited. The first place I visited was  

The famous Gamcheon Culture Village. As I enjoyed the colorful scenery of   the village for a while, I began to see  the uncomfortable truths of the village.  Take a look at the signs posted everywhere.  “Please do not trespass into residential areas,”  

“Do not take photos that invade privacy,”  “Do not litter” – these are the residents’   requests. There are plenty of such notices  and appeals scattered throughout the village.  On the streets, there are no residents to be  seen; it’s filled with tourists and shops.  I also visited Haeundae, another  representative tourist destination in Busan. 

It’s filled with franchise hotels  and upscale commercial facilities,   making it luxurious but typical of tourist spots. I was disappointed with these tourist spots,   because I came to experience the unique local  charm of Busan, different from Seoul. So, I came  

Up with an interesting idea. ‘Why not go to places  with as few tourists as possible?!’ So, I started   visiting places that only Busan locals go to. Now,  I’ll introduce some of them. Will these places be   as charming as tourist spots? Let’s find out! The first place I chose is Bujeon Market,  

Which substitutes for Jagalchi Market. It is  the largest traditional market in Busan and   is where most locals visit. As you can see, it is  so vast that it takes a few hours to wander. It’s   the largest local market I’ve ever seen in the  entire Korea. There’s everything from seafood,  

Meat, vegetables, fruits, and more. The  street food here is also incredibly diverse,   and both the price and taste are excellent. What made Bujeon Market particularly nice was   the warmth and kindness of the merchants here.  The owner of the rice soup restaurant generously  

Offered us more side dishes. While we were  standing and eating sushi, the nearby merchants   warmly smiled at us and told us to eat slowly. The  kind hot dog vendor even gave us tissues. It was   truly a heartwarming experience at Bujeon Market. The second place I visited was not Haeundae but  

Millak the Market in Gwangalli. It’s said to  be a hotspot frequented by many MZs in Busan.  Now, this view is the reason why this place  is so famous among the trendy young locals.   The stunning view of Gwangan Bridge and Minrak  Port from this huge window is truly impressive. 

Moreover, this place is also a cultural  space where trendy international foods,   cafes, clothing stores, and accessory shops are  gathered. You can fully experience the youthful,   hip, and lively vibe of Busan here. That’s not all there is to the charm of this  

Place. When you leave the market, you can walk up  to Minrak-dong Breakwater and the white lighthouse   at the end. From this spot, you can enjoy  panoramic views of Haeundae and Gwangan Bridge.  The third place I visited is a local  recommended restaurant where you can  

Enjoy fresh seafood at reasonable prices.  This place is famous for selling seafood   caught directly by the Haenyeo or female divers. The gracious shop owner closed the window for us,   showing even greater hospitality when  she learned that my wife hails from the  

Same hometown as hers. This exemplifies the  warmth and kindness often found in Korea.  We ordered a seafood platter, and all the dishes  were fresh, generous in portion, and reasonably   priced, so we were completely satisfied. Before leaving, we received recommendations  

From the shop owner for spots that  locals visit, so we’ll go check them out.  This is the place. A spot where you can truly  enjoy the forest in Busan, the city by the sea!  This vast forest, densely packed with  bamboo and over 400-years-old Korean native  

Pine trees, naturally soothe the soul. The signature photo spot of this forest   is right here. Isn’t it more mysterious with  these towering stone columns on either side?  It’s featured in many movies, and I can see why. The fifth place I visited is Dakbatgol  

Mural Village, which serves as an  alternative to Gamcheon Culture Village.  This village, also revitalized through  Busan’s urban regeneration project,   may not be as famous as Gamcheon or Hwinyeoul  Village, but it’s known for its unique charm,   with a Hanji experience center operated by a  renowned Korean paper artisan and charming murals  

And sculptures scattered throughout the village,  making it a place locals visit time and again.  Above all, the highlight of this village  is the monorail. This monorail was built   to help elderly residents navigate the  challenging 192 steep stairway steps,   adding a touch of charm to the village. While waiting to hop on the monorail,  

We had the chance to meet and chat with  several residents. The cheerful demeanor   and innocence of this Taekwondo-clad boy, waiting  with his grandmother, brought a smile to my face.  During our conversations, we learned  something else. It’s the fact that   young people in Busan are continually leaving  the city, leaving behind an aging population. 

Finally, it was our turn to ride  the monorail. Although it’s slow,   understanding the purpose of the monorail here  made the ride more meaningful. With barriers   installed and quirky fun, it was quite enjoyable. We became aware of a local issue through another  

Grandmother. She mentioned that while many  people used to visit this village in the past,   problems such as unauthorized tresspasses,  theft, and noise from tourists made life   difficult for residents, leading many neighbors  to eventually abandon their homes and leave.  The kind grandmother who warmly welcomed our  greetings looked lonely, and it saddened me. 

The last place I recommend is  a hidden gem restaurant known   among avid food enthusiasts in Busan. What makes this place special is that   you get a whopping 10 dishes for only 20,000 won  or US 14 dollars. What’s even more shocking is  

That every dish, at such a low price, was  of excellent quality without exception.  The owner here personally handles the food  preparation and uses high-grade ingredients.  I’ve visited many great restaurants  in Korea, but I can confidently say   that this is the first restaurant that  made me want to pay more for the food. 

What do you think, guys? It was a truly local  travel with hidden gems unknown to tourists.   I enjoyed learning about the warmth, kindness,  and stories of the people in Busan. Moreover,   I became interested in unexpected  social issues facing Busan.  In fact, famous tourist spots in Busan like  Gamcheon and Huinnyeoul Culture Village are  

Suffering from severe over-tourism issues,  causing significant distress to residents.  The influx of tourists and subsequent  gentrification have led to residents losing their   livelihoods and being forced to leave the area. It’s worrying that the unique characteristics   of this area are disappearing, leaving  behind only remnants of commercialization. 

Is it possible for tourists  and residents to coexist?  Overtourism is not just a problem unique to Busan. Places like Barcelona in Spain or Venice in Italy,   where we recently visited, are also prime  examples suffering from overtourism.  During this local journey, I came to think  about this. If we benefit from tourism  

For relaxation and experiences, shouldn’t the  locals who provide these benefits also benefit?  We should travel with respect and consideration  as visitors. Understanding and respecting people,   culture, and the environment are essential. Moreover, when spending money, it’s better   to support locals and small businesses that  preserve the area and offer authentic experiences,  

Rather than large franchise companies  armed with marketing and capital.  In that context, I recommend to you the  hidden gem local places I discovered. For   more information, please refer to my  e-book about Busan in the comment section below.  I also love traveling and enjoying beautiful  and wonderful things, as evidenced in my  

International travels to 51 countries. However, the true beauty of a travel destination   comes not just from the place itself but from  the people who live there, don’t you think?  I hope you’ll embark on a journey filled  with the warmth and charm of local people,  

Much like the one I experienced in  Busan. See you in the next video!

Don’t you want to experience the unique local charm of Busan, different from Seoul?
Being disappointed with tourist spots in Busan, I came up with an interesting idea.
‘Why not go to places with as few tourists as possible?!’
So, I started visiting places that only Busan locals go to.
In this video, I have introduced some of them.
Will these places be as charming as tourist spots?
Let’s find out!

If you’d like to know more about Busan, check out the book here:
https://payhip.com/worldwideseanp

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