Busan - Korea's second largest metropolis

Busan is the largest port and fisheries city located on the southeast coast of the Korean Peninsula. In 2002 this world-class tourist hot spot will play host to the FIFA World Cup and the Asian Games.

With a population of four million, Korea's second largest metropolis is also known as Korea's first international port as it opened its harbor to foreign ships as early as 1876. Since 1978, it 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.

As a popular coastal city for Korean and foreign vacationers alike, Busan offers much for the tourist such as mountains, rivers, hot springs and the sea, which can be enjoyed all-year round due to its temperate climate. Busan, however has begun reinventing itself as an international sea resort. Large-acale aquariums allow visitors to embark on undersea journeys and several sea resorts are equipped with amusement parks. Hot springs which are a common phenomenon here are also promoted extensively as a tourist must-see.

All-year round, exciting festivals are held to draw visitors to Busan. The warm weather, clean white sands and cool sea breezes are serve as strong reasons to visit this city. In addition, the biggest seafood market at the Busan Jagalchi Festival offers fresh seafood and the Busan International Film Festival features world famous top-quality films. Various festivals such as the winter North Polar Bear Swimming Contest and the Greeting Sunrise Festival give residents and tourists a new lease on life.

City of sports

Located close to the sea and plains, Busan is a place where people can relish fresh natural dishes ranging from raw fish, seafood soup, roasted eel to roasted beef and barbecued goat meat. Most of all, a tasteful combination of grilled Dongrae, a traditional plate with traditional Korea rice wine, know as makkolli, which used to be a presented to the king of the Josun dynasty, is especially worth a try.

Busan is also a city of sports. It has successfully hosted international sporting events such as the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Olympic Games, football and yacht competitions and the 1997 East Asian Games. Because of this experience and its world class facilities, Busan was chosen to host the 2002 FIFA World Cup that will take place between 31 May and 30 June, and the 14th Asian Games from 29 September to 14 October 2002. Approximately 10,000 athletes from 43 Asian countries will be participating.

To cope with the large soccer-loving crowds, the construction of a multi-purpose stadium began in 1991 in Younjegu Geojedong and is scheduled to be completed by May 2001. This stadium's capacity is 55,982 seats with five storeys and two basement floors on a building site of approximately 330,000 square meters. The total floor space will be approximately 93,882 square meters.

Busan has developed into an advanced and competitive international port city and has since raised its profile to become a 21st century bridgehead for maritime trade. Taking one step further, a new port is being developed in west Busan, to play a pivotal role in Northeast Asian maritime trade, while Busian's second port in the north is expected to become the centre for tourism. Such efforts will no doubt revitalize the Busan economy in addition to creating a new sense of pride among its residents and admiration from its visitors.