Busan is good

Ttubeok Ttubeok Busan Architecture Tour: Discover the Stories of Busan’s Architecture on Foot

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that it will operate the “Ttubeok Ttubeok Busan Architecture Tour” (hereafter referred to as the Architecture Tour) every weekend through December this year in cooperation with the Busan International Architecture Festival Organizing Committee (Executive Director Lee Seong-ho, hereafter Busan International Architecture Festival).

The Architecture Tour is a citizen participation program designed to properly introduce the excellence of Busan’s architecture. Participants walk along architectural landmarks in the city center while exploring the history and value of architecture.

Anyone interested in urban environments and architecture can participate.

The tour consists of representative urban and architectural cultural assets of Busan, including the ▲Centum City Architecture course (Haeundae-gu) ▲UN and Cultural Architecture course (Nam-gu) ▲Old Downtown Architecture course (Jung-gu) ▲Dongnae Traditional Architecture course (Dongnae-gu), along with the ▲Sanbokdoro Architecture course (Dong-gu), which was newly introduced in May of last year, bringing the total to five courses.

The Centum City Architecture course explores major modern architectural landmarks around Centum City, including the Busan Museum of Art Annex (Lee Ufan Space), BEXCO, Shinsegae Department Store, and the Busan Cinema Center.

The UN and Cultural Architecture course visits Busan’s unique modern and contemporary architectural sites, including the Busan Museum, Busan Cultural Center, National Memorial Museum of Forced Mobilization under Japanese Occupation, UN Peace Memorial Hall, and the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea, showcasing patriotic and veterans’ cultural heritage and memorial facilities.

The Old Downtown Architecture course explores modern architectural sites reflecting Busan’s identity and history, including Baeksan Memorial Hall in Jung-gu, the Busan Meteorological Observatory, the Busan Cathedral of the Anglican Church of Korea, and the Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum Annex.

The Dongnae Traditional Architecture course visits structures from the Joseon Dynasty Dongnae-bu that preserve Busan’s history and traditions, including Janggwanchung, Dongheon, and Dongnae Hyanggyo.

The Sanbokdoro Architecture course offers a tour of Busan Eurasia Platform, the former Baekje Hospital, the guesthouses “Dasot Geuru Namu” and “Catnap,” the 168 Observatory reached by slope-type elevator, Ibagu Workshop, and the Mangyang-ro Sanbokdoro Exhibition Hall, allowing participants to experience the unique charm of Busan as a global hub port city. In particular, this course is close to Busan Station and easily accessible, making it especially popular among domestic and international tourists.

The tour begins at 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 10:00 a.m. on Sundays each week, and each course takes approximately two hours and thirty minutes on foot. Every tour is accompanied by Busan Architecture Cultural Docents—experts in architectural interpretation—who explain the history, significance, and stories behind the buildings.

Applications for the Architecture Tour can be submitted through the Busan International Architecture Festival website at https://biacf.or.kr, and the participation fee is 5,000 won per person. Participants will receive a small commemorative gift on site.

The tours are not operated on Mondays, during national holiday periods, or during the Busan International Architecture Festival exhibition period from October 27 to October 31.

Group tours for seven or more participants are available year-round and can be arranged by contacting the Busan International Architecture Festival Secretariat by phone at 051-744-7762.

Meanwhile, as Busan has been selected as the final host city of the 2028 World Design Capital (WDC), drawing global attention to its urban design capabilities, Busan Metropolitan City plans to further develop internationally oriented architecture tour content to introduce the excellence of Busan architecture to the world. Detailed information will be announced later through the Busan International Architecture Festival website.

Bae Seong-taek, Director General of the Housing and Architecture Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “Busan is home to a wide range of architectural assets that embody the city’s history and identity,” adding, “We hope the ‘Ttubeok Ttubeok Busan Architecture Tour’ will provide citizens with an opportunity to experience the stories embedded in architecture while walking and to discover the charm of Busan’s architectural culture.”