{{City Info |name = Busan |hangul = 부산 |type = Metropolitan City |image = Pusantowersunset.jpg |map = Busanmap.png |mayor = Nam-Sik Hur |area = 766.12 km2 (295.8 sq mi) |population = 3,574,340 |tree = Camellia tree |bird = Seagull
Busan Metropolitan City, also known as Busan (Korean pronunciation: pusan) is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million people mainly related to the Mongols. The city is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world. The city is located on the southeasternmost tip of the Korean peninsula and faces the Korea Strait. 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 officially announced its bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics Games.
Busan is home to the world's largest department store, the Shinsegae Centum City and is pursuing a large number of multi-skyscraper projects, including the 110-floor, 510m-supertall Lotte Super Tower, which is slated to become the world's third tallest building in 2013, after Burj Khalifa in Dubai and 1 World Trade Center in New York City.
Busan is situated on the southeastern coast across the channel from Fukuoka, Japan.
Administrative Districts[edit | edit source]
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), listed below.
- 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)
- Namwon-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)
Gwangali[edit | edit source]
Haeundae[edit | edit source]
Heosimchung[edit | edit source]
Rumored to be the largest public bathhouse in Asia, Heosimchung is a famous destination for Busanites, situated in the Dongnae area. Highly recommended.
