Life
[My Busan Story] Dancing on Dalmaji
"My Busan Story" is a special series by Busan's English-language newspaper, inviting foreign residents to share their unique perspectives on life in the city. From unforgettable experiences and travel episodes to small everyday joys, these stories highlight the diverse voices that make Busan feel like home. This month, we introduce the story of Gahyeon Ryu from South Korea
Dancing on Dalmaji
It would have been a day like any other- if only I hadn’t been out walking on the mountain trails all day. ‘So why were you?’, you wonder. Well, we’ll need to go back a few more days to answer that question.
It all began when my mom suddenly-yes, suddenly-asked me and my brother if we wanted to go to an event together. The ‘event’ was the walking competition held nearby at Dalmaji(Moontan Road). To her surprise, my brother, who usually likes participating in events, said no. Conversely, I, who is usually much less active, said yes. I have always loved Dalmaji, so I wanted to give it a try.
The event was held on a Saturday. As usual, the nature on the mountain was relaxing and beautiful. However, what I enjoyed most was the opening ceremony. The participants gathered in front of Haewoljeong. As the MC announced the opening of the event, the traditional drum team started playing. With every drum beat, our hearts beat faster too. Then, as if trying to outshine the sun, a woman in very shiny, fancy, and colorful clothes came up to the stage. She had a headset mic on, and the thick layers of lipstick on her playful grin caught everyone’s attention. She caught everyone off guard, when she announced that we’d be dancing. She taught us some line dancing moves, and we all danced to the groovy music. Some people were enjoying it so much that they even started singing. We were ready to walk the 3.2km ahead of us!
What I felt the most on that day was the sense of community. Having a fun time with good people and interesting culture. That’s what makes Busan so special to me!