Busan

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Pūsan is also a Vedic Hindu god.
Busan Metropolitan City

Image:Haeundaebeachbusan.jpg

Korean name
Revised Romanization Busan Gwangyeoksi
McCune-Reischauer Pusan Kwangyŏksi
Hangul 부산 광역시
Hanja 釜山廣域市
Short name Busan (Pusan; 부산; 釜山)
Statistics
Population 3,719,989 (2005 census) [1]
Area 762.92 km²
Government Metropolitan City
Administrative divisions 15 wards (Gu), 1 county (Gun)
Region Yeongnam
Dialect Gyeongsang
Location map
Image:Busan map.png
Image:Busan tower by night.jpg
Image:Haeundae beach.jpg

Busan Metropolitan City, also commonly referred to as Pusan, is the largest harbor city in Korea, with a population of about 4 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). [2]

Busan was the host city of the 2002 Asian Games. 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.

Geumjeong Mountain to the west is a popular weekend hiking spot for Busan residents. Tourist hotels and a carnival boardwalk line the Haeundae Beach district. To the north, the neighborhoods around Busan National University sport student cafes, bars, and open air noodle restaurants. Jagalchi Market (near the very active port) is an area of narrow street stalls and is well known for its fish market.

The area known as the "Foreigners' Shopping Street", near the main docks, has many Russian businesses, that cater to the local Russian population, plus the crews of foreign ships. The area was originally known as the Foreigners' Street because so many businesses were set up there during the 1940s and 1950s to cater to 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 is now attracting ships from all over the globe and is aspiring to become a regional financial center. In addition, Busan is internationally ranked 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. UN troops established a defensive perimeter around the city known as the Busan perimiter in the summer and autumn of 1950.

The city is also home to K-League soccer side Busan I'park.

Since 1982, the city has been home to the Lotte Giants, who play in the Korean baseball league.

Busan is also famous for the Pusan International Film Festival, or PIFF, which is one of the largest international film festivals in Asia.

Contents

Administrative divisions

Busan is divided into 15 wards ("Gu") and 1 county ("Gun").

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 three largest ports that can handle up to 6.44 million TEU shipping containers per year.

Transportation

Image:Busanstation.jpg

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 two subway lines, Line number 1 and Line number 2. Line number 3 will open in November 2005.

See also

External links

Wikimedia Commons has more media related to:


Administrative divisions of South Korea Image:South korea flag large.png
Special City
Seoul
Metropolitan Cities
Busan | Daegu | Daejeon | Gwangju | Incheon | Ulsan
Provinces
Chungcheongbuk-do | Chungcheongnam-do | Gangwon-do | Gyeonggi-do | Gyeongsangbuk-do | Gyeongsangnam-do | Jeju-do | Jeollabuk-do | Jeollanam-do
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