The best of Busan

Indeed, South Korea has so much to offer, even beyond the capital. When the weary tourist becomes tired of the hustle and bustle of Seoul, Busan is an exciting city to explore.

Though it is only the second largest city in South Korea, everything seems to be bigger and brighter in Busan, bursting with boundless energy.

One of the highlights of going to Busan is the trip itself. The most convenient way to get there is by taking the KTX express train. The trip takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

The seats are spacious and the travel is made more fun with an array of unique Korean snacks being carted through the aisles. With the picturesque view flashing by, the excitement builds as you near your destination.

At the APEC

Busan has become the global hub of South Korea, hosting many international events including the APEC Conference in 2005 and the annual Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).

A visit to Busan would not be complete without getting an expansive view of the Busan shoreline from the viewing deck of the Nurimaru APEC House and a souvenir photograph stepping on the plaque with your country’s name on the platform where world leaders had their own photo taken during the summit.

The Nurimaru – Korean for “world summit” – was opened to the public after the APEC Conference. Visitors can explore the meeting halls where the conference was held and enjoy the views that world leaders were inspired by.

If the APEC House gives a glimpse of Busan’s past, the Busan Cinema Center (BCC) symbolizes the city’s future.

The architecture itself is a futuristic, deconstructed take on Busan’s mountainous landscape, with a Cinemountain and BIFF Hill.

The Cinema Center houses multiple theaters, editing rooms, and a film archive. The 4,000-seat outdoor theater hosts live concerts, major movie screenings, and the BIFF opening and closing ceremonies. One can almost imagine the red carpet being rolled out and the flash of paparazzi cameras at the event.

Another way to enjoy the BCC and get a taste of Korean culture is by watching a screening of K-Pop 3D. Here, the audience gets an up close dose of K-Pop stars like Rain and Super Junior in concert – almost better than being at the performance itself. Admittedly, even non-K-Pop fans will appreciate the showmanship and performance level of the Korean phenoms.

Shop ‘til you drop

While Busan is known for its lush greenery and imposing mountains, it also boasts of the Guinness-certified World’s Largest Department Store.

A sprawling 293,904 square meters, Shinsegae Centum City offers 14 floors of shops, restaurants, a health center, cinemas, book center, wine house, art gallery, an ice skating rink, and even a golf range.

One day is certainly not enough to browse all the shops – mega stores of H&M, SPA from Sweden, and Nike; luxury brands like Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Prada; traditional Korean gifts perfect for souvenirs; books and stationery items; local designers on Fashion Street; popular make-up brands and traditional Korean cosmetics; and everything in between.

At the end of all that shopping, a trip to Shinsegae Centum City’s Spa Land is in order.

When the department store was being built, two natural hot springs were discovered and a spa was annexed to the already gigantic shopping center.

The sodium bicarbonate hot spring, pumped from 1,000 meters underground, is also known as the “beauty bathtub” as it is able to remove dead skin cells, making the skin and hair shine. The sodium chloride hot spring, on the other hand, is good for blood circulation. The heat from the pool helps ease aches and pains – from too much window shopping and bargain hunting, perhaps.

Be warned, however, that the spring bath area is to be enjoyed in the buff. The male and female areas of the spa are separate, but it may still be intimidating for those who are not used to it.

Not to worry, Spa Land also has 13 sauna and hot steam rooms, or jjimjilbangs, each at different temperatures and with different themes. Here, visitors are fully clothed in the spa-provided shirt and shorts.

Among the notable jjimjilbangs are the traditional Finnish sauna with wooden interiors; the pyramid room which harnesses the angle of the pyramid, said to be the best angle to directly collect the energies of the universe; the Himalaya room is lined with bricks of pinkish Himalayan salt; the Wave-Dream room is entirely blue, with lights and sounds evoking the feeling of being underwater; the Body Sound room has bamboo-like poles that make sound vibrations that travel though the body.

If the baths and saunas are not enough, Spa Land also has a relaxation room with recliner chairs and personal televisions; an aesthetics area where customers can have face, body, scalp, and foot treatments; an outdoor foot spa; and a restaurant and café.

Making Waves

Haeundae Beach is another must-visit tourist spot, but if weather or chilly temperatures do not permit, exploring Busan’s waters can be done nearby at the Busan Aquarium, Korea’s largest ocean-themed park.

The three-floor aquarium is home to 40,000 underwater creatures from around the world, with hands-on displays, penguin and shark feeding shows, and everything from turtles to jellyfish. Visitors can also book a glass bottomed boat, try out a 3D ride and, for the brave, a shark dive.

Finally, the best way to end a trip to Busan is on the BEXCO yacht tour, an hour-long cruise that takes visitors from the Busan Yachting Center, past Marine City, Dongbaek Island, Haeundae, and Gwangan Bridge.

Guests can enjoy fishing during the morning cruise and a lantern lighting wishing ceremony in the evening.

On the yacht’s deck is a warm foot bath to soak tired feet while taking in the view. A delicious meal of Korean barbeque and pastries is served on board and entertainment is provided by the gracious crew.

The yacht tour is a rewarding end to a few days’ worth of non-stop shopping, spa and sauna hopping, and sightseeing. The beauty of Busan twinkles in the city lights from afar.

KTO president Charm Lee was right in saying that Korea has a very special charm. Enjoying the cool breeze, the sound of the waves, and the hum of the yacht’s engine, Lee’s words echo: “Open your minds and hearts to the warmth of Korea.”

STARweek would like to thank the Korea Tourism Organization. For more information, call 880-0312 or visit www.visitkorea.or.kr.