Weekend Getaways From Seoul: Busan

BY GRACE ZHENG

Yonsei is in the heart of Seoul, making it a prime location to enjoy all the city has to offer. With countless cafes, concerts, and vibes to catch one may never want to leave. However, there's so much more to Korea than Seoul, I strongly encourage everyone who visits to explore beyond the city! Taking advantage of the recent holidays here in Korea, I went on a weekend getaway to Busan with some friends and made some unforgettable memories.

Busan

 

“The perfect place to enjoy all the coast has to offer.”

Busan is located on the very southern tip of the Korean peninsula, making it a prime location to enjoy all the coast has to offer: the beach, stunning views, and seafood. Only a three hour train ride via the KTX bullet train, travel to Busan is a breeze, akin to the one that you are greeted with stepping out of the train car for the first time. Right in front of the Busan Station is the city’s Chinatown, greeting you with dazzling city lights as you breathe in the fresh ocean air. My friends and I stayed in a cozy hotel in the middle of the city’s shopping district, a five minute walk away from the famous Jagalchi Fish Market.

If you’re a lover of the freshest seafood, Jagalchi is the place to be. Stalls are lined with every kind of seafood imaginable: fresh octopus and fish still wriggling in tanks, crabs, dried fish, shrimp, and abalones just to name a few. One may be overwhelmed by all the sights and (very pungent) smells. My roommate and I couldn’t resist the smell of salt-grilled fish, so we sat down and dug in for breakfast. Later we met up with the rest of our friends for the main attraction, fresh seafood straight from the market to your plate. They had Gejang (soy-marinated crab), some more grilled fish, and live octopus so fresh that it would squirm on its way down your throat.

After hitting the market, we felt refreshed and ready to explore another one of Busan’s must-visit sights, the Gamcheon Culture Village. Arriving at our destination after a cramped and bumpy bus ride, the view that greeted us made the journey more than worth it. Colorful pastel buildings line the hills full of paintings, murals, and local cafes with specialty drinks. The cafe my friends and I visited was called Cafe Blue House, named after its sky blue exterior adorned with cartoon clouds for a whimsical vibe. I got a delicious Sky Smoothie which was Blue soda flavored with cream cheese clouds. With an amazing view and cozy interior, I would definitely recommend Blue House to any traveler in need of a refreshing drink after navigating the windy streets of the Village.

When in Busan, one must eat seafood. So for dinner, we went to a delicious Japanese style restaurant where we had Nagasaki Jjampong, Sukiyaki, Stir fried Beef, and various Hwe (Korean Sashimi). The owner was also very kind to us and gave us tofu sushi as a service (free dish).

To close out the night, we camped out at the beach, laying down picnic blankets, and enjoying some drinks and snacks over chatting. Aside from swimming, another popular activity at Gwangalli Beach is to view the lights of the bridge and set off fireworks. It was the perfect picturesque close to my time in Busan.