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City), romanized as Pusan before 2000,[nb 1] isSouth Korea's second largest city
after Seoul, with a population of approximately 3.6 million. The population of the
metropolitan area, including the adjacent cities of Gimhae and Yangsan, is
approximately 4.6 million. Located within South Korea's largest industrial area,
"Southeast economic zone"(includes Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province), the
city is the cultural, educational and economic center in the region. It is the
largest port city in South Korea and the world's fifth busiest seaport by cargo
tonnage.[3] The city is located on the southeastern-most tip of the Korean peninsula.
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 districts. Administratively, it is designated as a Metropolitan City. The
Busan metropolitan area is divided into 15 major administrative districts and a
single county.
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 a center for international
conventions in Korea. On November 14, 2005, the city authorities officially
announced its bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics Games.
[4]
After Pyeongchang's successful bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, Busan is
considering bidding to host the 2028 or 2032 Summer Olympics. [5]
Busan has Korea's largest beach and longest river, and is home to the world's
largest department store, the Shinsegae Centum City.[6]
History[edit]
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Gwangan Bridge
Busan at night
Geochilsan-guk existed in the second and 3rd and 4th 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 theThree Kingdoms of Korea were forming, c. AD 300400. The mounded burials
ofBokcheon-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 atBokcheon-dong.
In 757, Geochilsan-gun was again renamed Dongnae, which it is still called.
From the beginning of the 15th 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.
During the Japanese rule, Busan (known in Japanese also as Fusan) 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.[verification needed]
During the Korean War, Busan was one of only two cities in South Korea not
captured by the North Korean army within the first three months of the War. As a
result, the city became a refugee camp site for Koreans during the war, along with
Daegu.[7]
As Busan was one of the few areas in Korea that remained under the control of
South Korea throughout the Korean War, for some time it served as a temporary
capital of the 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.
In 1963, Busan separated from Gyeongsangnam-do to become a Directly Governed
City (Jikhalsi). In 1983, the provincial capitol of Gyeongsangnam-do was moved from
Busan to Changwon.
In 1995, Busan became a Metropolitan City (Gwangyeoksi).
to Tsushima Island, Japan, is about 49.5 km (31 mi), to Fukuoka, Japan, about
180 km (112 mi), and by contrast, to Seoul about 314 km (195 mi). Busan borders
low mountains on the north and west, and the seas on the south and east.
The Nakdong River Delta is located on the west side of the city, and Geumjeongsan,
the highest mountain in the city, on the north. The Nakdong River, South Korea's
longest river, flows through the west and empties into the Korea Strait. The
southeastern region, called Yeongnam in Korea, encompasses both Gyeongsang
Provinces and 3 metropolitan cities of Busan, Daegu and Ulsan. Ulsan lies northeast
of Busan. Combined population exceeds 13 million.
Climate[edit]
Busan (19812010)
Climate chart (explanation)
J F MA M J
A S
O N D
3 5 8 1
4 0 1 3
3
3
1
7
2
5
5
5 4 2
8 6 3
8 1 1
0 3 1
8
1 1 5
1
0
1
5
7
2
0
7
1
5
8
2
2
2
4
2
7
2
9
2
6
1
4
1
8
2
2
2
3
2
0
2 1 1
2 6 1
1 8 2
4
2003, Typhoon Maemi, also caused damage to ships and buildings and resulted in
over 48 fatalities.
October and November are generally the most comfortable, with clear skies and
pleasant temperatures. Winters are cold and comparatively dry with high winds, but
much milder than other parts of Korea except Jeju-do and several islands of the
southern coast. Busan and the nearby area has the least amount of snow compared
to other regions of Korea due to its location. Snow falls on an average of only about
6 days per year. Even a little accumulation of snow can effectively shut down this
seaport city because of the hilly terrain and unfamiliarity of motorists with driving
on snow.
[hide]Climate data for Busan (19812010)
Month
Jan
Feb
7.8
(46)
9.8
13.4
18.2
21.7
24.4
27.3
(49.6) (56.1) (64.8) (71.1) (75.9) (81.1)
29.4
(84.9)
3.2
4.9
8.6
13.6
17.5
20.7
24.1
(37.8) (40.8) (47.5) (56.5) (63.5) (69.3) (75.4)
25.9
(78.6)
0.6 1.1
(30.9) (34)
4.9
9.9
14.1
17.9
21.8
(40.8) (49.8) (57.4) (64.2) (71.2)
23.4
(74.1)
Average precipitation mm
(inches)
34.4
(1.35
4)
50.2
(1.97
6)
80.7
(3.17
7)
132.7
(5.22
4)
157.4
(6.19
7)
206.7
(8.13
8)
316.9
(12.47
6)
255.1
(10.04
3)
Average precipitation
days ( 0.1 mm)
5.5
6.2
8.4
9.1
9.4
10.4
13.6
11.5
Average relative
humidity (%)
48.3
51.4
57.7
62.7
69.8
77.4
84.3
79.9
199.0
182.5
193.0
210.0
221.7
179.7
165.8
200.9
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
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
Area (km)
Population
[citation needed]
[citation needed]
39.44
313,553
Busanjin District
29.69
398,174
Dong District
9.78
102,859
Dongnae District
16.63
283,636
Gangseo District
180.24
66,269
Geumjeong District
65.17
257,662
Haeundae District
51.46
429,477
Jung District
2.82
50,555
Subdivision
Korean
Buk District
Area (km)
Population
[citation needed]
[citation needed]
26.77
301,904
Saha District
40.96
362,697
Sasang District
36.06
261,673
Seo District
13.88
127,068
Suyeong District
10.20
179,208
Yeongdo District
14.13
148,431
Yeonje District
12.08
213,453
Gijang County
; )
218.04
103,762
Subdivision
Korean
Nam District
Economy[edit]
Busan is the home of the headquarters of Renault Samsung Motors, Hanjin Heavy
Industries, Busan Bank, Air Busan, Hi Investment & Securities, Woori Aviva Life
Insurance, Korea Technology Finance Corporation, Korea Asset Management
Corporation, Korea Housing-Finance Corporation, Korea Securities Depository, Korea
Housing Guarantee Company, Korea Southern Power Company, BNK Financial
Group.
Jagalchi Fish Market is the largest fish market in Korea.
Busan is ranked the fourth best city after Singapore, Seoul and Tokyo among Asia's
top convention cities in a 2011 global ranking by the International Congress and
Convention Association (ICCA).[20]
Busan was ranked the 27th among 83 cities and top 8 Asia/Pacific centres of the
Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) published by UK-based Z/Yen Group in March
2014.[citation needed]
Shopping and commerce[edit]
Seomyeon
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 Centum City in Haeundae-gu.
Seomyeon is the crossroads of Busan. The local subway station serves two lines and
is one of the busiest in the city. Seomyeon subway station is also home to a large
number of underground shops, selling a variety of products, predominately clothing
and footwear. These are small boutique shops, selling locally produced products.
Though shopping here can be frustrating, as you are often not allowed to try on the
merchandise, you are sure to find some great bargains. The local head offices of
Korean and international banks are located in Seomyeon. It is recognized as the
ascendant shopping and entertainment district. It is also home to "Seomyeon
Medical Street", the district encompassing the 1 km-radius range around Lotte
Department Store in Seomyeon and the Buam subway station. The Street is home
to a total of 160 cosmetic and other medical clinics, including those specializing in
cosmetic surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology and dentistry. [21][22] Directly adjacent
to Seomyeon is Bujeon Market, the largest traditional market in the city. Other
companies with offices here include Yeolmae Food.
The Gwangbok-dong, Nampo-dong, and Jungang-dong areas form the old central
business district. Some of the restaurants in this district use family recipes passed
down the generations. Jagalchi Market, a large seafood market, is located in this
area. The Gukje Market is also 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. [23]
Centum City, an industrial complex, is a popular new shopping area with luxury
department stores.
Major department stores[edit]
Store
Centum City
Beomil-dong
Premium outlets[edit]
Store
Location
Gimhae
Gijang
Gijang
Tongmyong University
Dongseo University
Dong-A University
Dong-eui University
Kosin University
Kyungsung University
Silla University
Youngsan University
Daedong College
Dong-Pusan College
Dongju College
Foreign schools[edit]