Designation of cultural heritage

National registered cultural heritage (Designation date: July 3, 2007)

Bokbyeongsan Reservoir was a modern water treatment facility built in 1910 to supply drinking water to foreign residents who were living in the open port area after the opening of the Busan Port in the 1900’s.
During the Korean War, the reservoir provided essential water to the downtown areas of the wartime capital of Busan. It transported water from Seongjigok Reservoir to homes, businesses, and public water stations in what is now Jung-gu and Dong-gu, as part of the city's modern water infrastructure system.
At that time, more than 40,000 tons of water were needed daily, but only 20,000 tons were supplied. Water was delivered every 2 to 3 days in lowland areas and every 4 to 5 days in higher altitudes, such as hillside neighborhoods. The water supply was limited to just two hours, with households restricted to three buckets of water each. During water supply times, long queues of buckets formed in front of public water stations, creating a remarkable sight as residents waited to collect their ration of water.
As one of Korea’s earliest modern water facilities, Bokbyeongsan Reservoir remains a significant site, preserving the heritage of the nation’s early water supply infrastructure. It is currently registered and managed as a National Registered Cultural Heritage site.