Daily Busan
The lights are brightly shining
source: visitbusan
When winter settles over Busan, the city doesn't dim －it shines. Neighborhood by neighborhood, brilliant light displays transform coastal parks, bustling streets and sandy beaches into glowing nighttime escapes. From whimsical installations to immersive media art, Busan's winter festivals offer the perfect reason to step outside, bundle up and explore the city after dark.
🌟 Haeundae Light Festival
＊Until Jan. 18 ＊Lights on 6 to 11 p.m. daily
Haeundae may be famous for its summer sunshine, but in winter the warmth returns in the form of glowing lights. The 12th Haeundae Light Festival transforms Gunam-ro and Haeundae Beach into a starry coastal walkway inspired by this year's theme, "Stellar Haeundae." Imagined as starlight drifting in like gentle waves, the design brings soft, luminous charm to the district's lively streets.
Visitors are welcomed by Starlight Gate, a glowing entrance on Gunam-ro that sets the tone for the experience ahead. The Stellar Wave Zone leads toward the beach, guiding visitors with atmospheric light arrangements. At the center of Gunam-ro, a striking star-shaped installation becomes a seasonal highlight, its four-meter structure capturing the shimmering moment a star bursts into light. Trees of varying heights add a festive, classic holiday mood and warm year-end charm.
Down by the sea, Haeundae Square hosts daily programs from 6 to 10 p.m., including sand art, line art, pedal-powered bicycles and a winter photo booth. Around Christmas, visitors can take playful four-cut photos complete with fun seasonal props.
The beach itself turns into a dreamy galaxy. The Haeundae Universe Zone features a 10-meter earth-shaped media art piece and a 180-meter illuminated path dotted with planets, stars and even a glowing spaceship. It's a whimsical, walk-through universe set against Haeundae's pale sand, perfect for couples, families and anyone who loves nighttime strolls.
<Today's Vocabulary - 오늘의 단어>
dim: 흐릿해지다 bustling: 북적거리는 luminous: 빛나는 charm: 매력 atmospheric: 분위기 있는
Editor: Song Soomi
Copy Editors: Ryu Hyoseung, Anton J. Mapoy