Daily Busan
The weather is more than just small talk at the Busan Weather Observatory
▲ Busan Weather Observatory (front view)
At the top of Bokbyeongsan Mountain in Jung-gu district sits the Busan Weather Observatory. Reminiscent of a ship setting out to sea, this quaint building represents an important part of Korean culture and is significant to the scientific heritage of the world. In fact, the World Meteorological Organization accredited the Busan Weather Observatory as a Centennial Observing Station, one of only 291 such forecasting stations worldwide.
▲ Busan Weather Observatory (side view)
Like many cultural assets around the country, the observatory’s history is intricately tied to the painful Japanese colonial period. In 1904, the Central Meteorological Observatory of Japan established a temporary weather station in Busan, one of five nationwide. By 1934, the temporary station was made permanent and relocated to the site where it sits today. Throughout this time, the observatory has made weather forecasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to support various military campaigns, the shipping industry, fishermen, and everyday people wondering if they need to carry an umbrella.
▲ Busan Weather Observatory (inside)
While the Busan Regional Office of Meteorology, the government body that oversees the observatory, relocated its headquarters in 2021, the site atop Bokbyeongsan Mountain is still in operation. The building is now a museum. Visitors can experience the history of meteorology in the city and see weather instruments at work on the property grounds.
The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and is only available to guests who book reservations. For more information or to make reservations, call 051-718-0216.
Another way to access the property is through the Walking, Busan Architecture Tour. The observatory is one of several sites covered in detail by an architectural and cultural commentator. The tours are available from March to July and September to November on Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m. For more information, visit biacf.org
Busan Weather Observatory: 051-718-0216
Walking, Busan Architecture Tour: biacf.org