[Harumanbo] From Diverse Cultures Around the World to the Pain of Refuge... Busan Station

Editor's NoteThe subway is a transportation method that anyone can easily access and travel safely, and it is also an important point for daily walking. We introduce places around subway stations that are good for walking.

Today's course is a route that allows you to explore the old downtown area of Busan. The starting point of the course is Busan Station on Busan Metro Line 1. It is the central station of Busan and is connected to the railway Busan Station, the terminus of the Gyeongbu Line. Because of this, the number of passengers boarding and alighting at Busan Station on Line 1 ranks second after Seomyeon Station, highlighting its key role in city transportation.

Entrance to Busan Chinatown
[Photo by Busan City News]

Right in front of Busan Station is Chinatown. However, due to the characteristics of the port city, since the 1990s, many Russians have also settled here, creating a unique scene where Russian and Chinese cultures are mixed evenly. Unlike typical Chinese restaurants, there are Chinese restaurants that do not serve jajangmyeon or jjambbong at all but focus mainly on dumplings, where you can enjoy various cuisines from Central Asia and Europe, including Russia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.

40 Steps in Jung-gu, Busan
Photo by Lee Chun-hee

The next destination is the '40 Steps,' famous as a filming location for the movie "No Mercy for the Rude," fitting for Busan, the city of films. Before the Korean War, Busan Station was not at its current location but further south. Therefore, the 40 Steps, which connected Busan Station, Busan Port, and the hillside shantytown, naturally became a nearby central area. As it was a meeting place for refugees who fled to Busan, this area has been developed into a 'Cultural Tourism Theme Street' based on this theme. Around September to October every year, a cultural festival is held here with local residents.

Today's final stop is Busan Tower in Yongdusan Park. Completed in 1973, two years earlier than Namsan Seoul Tower, the tower has a height of 120 meters, and with an elevation of 69 meters above sea level, its total height reaches 189 meters. The unique exterior of the observatory was inspired by the canopy (Bogae) of the Dabotap Pagoda at Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju. It offers a panoramic view of Busan's old downtown, making it a popular spot not only for citizens enjoying a stroll in Yongdusan Park but also for tourists from outside the city.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.