Busan is also starring in the popular drama Ribbon Rich and the Cannes Film Festival director Park Chan-wook's movie Decided to Leave. Today, I introduce Busan, which has appeared in movies and dramas. I hope you will travel around the city like the main characters in movies and dramas and immerse yourself in the city's attractions.
‘'Reborn Rich' Jeongsimjae
'Reborn Rich' captivated audiences over the weekends with a viewership rating of more than 20%. The conflicts of chaebol families against the backdrop of major economic events that actually took place in Korea go right down to the wire. In particular, the charismatic performance of actor I Seong-min, who plays the role of chairman Jin Yang-cheol, the main character, makes you fall in love with the drama as the story goes deeper.
The house called 'Jeongsimjae,' where Chairman Jin Yang-cheol lives, also drew attention. This is because the elegant two-story Western-style house with a wide yard looked like a real chaebol's residence. The real building is in Busan. It is the former official residence of the Busan Mayor, located behind KBS in Namcheon-dong. With over 20,000 trees planted, it feels more like an arboretum than a house. Standing on the observatory on one side of the garden, you can see Haeundae Marine City and Gwangandaegyo Bridge.
‘Decision to Leave’ Chowon Apartment
Director Park Chan-wook's film 'Decision to Leave,' which won the Best Director Award at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, was filmed mainly in Busan. There are so many places in the movie that it's hard to list them all. Among them, the numerous stairs and narrow alleys that appeared in the chase scene drew the audience's attention because of the unique scenery that can only be found in Busan. It is Choryang 2 Bagu Trail that is now known to many travelers. It is a place where the culture of the mountainside road, which was naturally created as many refugees flocked to Busan during the Korean War, remains intact.
The highlight of the chase scene was around Chowon Apartment, which is between Choryang 2 Bagu Trail and Mangyang-ro. It consists of a long, exhausting stairway, an alleyway with murals, and even a rooftop where a detective eventually arrests a suspect. It was a scene that was only possible because it was filmed in Busan. It is one of Busan’s treasures. You can see a panoramic view of the city from the rooftop and rare sights such as cars parked on roofs.
‘Pachinko’ Taejongdae Park
The Apple TV original drama 'Pachinko' vividly depicted turbulent times through the story of four generations of Korean families in Japan. As Busan was the hometown of the main character, 'Seon-ja,' various parts of the city appeared in the drama. The hometown of Seon-ja, which appeared in the drama's first episode, is Taejongdae Park in Yeongdo. The place where the young Seon-ja worked was Taewon Pebble Beach in Taejongdae Park. It is a location where pebble fields, rock walls, dense forest, and blue sea are in harmony, and many tourists still visit.
When Seon-ja, after becoming a grandmother, returns to her hometown with her son, they run to Gamjihaebyeon Beach. It is a scene full of longing for one’s hometown. The seaside village depicted in the scene is famous for its grilled clams and is a favorite place for Busan residents because they can eat fresh seafood while listening to the sound of waves.
‘Curtain Call’ Jukseong Dream Filming Set
'Curtain Call,' which tells a story about a secret play for a terminally ill grandmother's happy life, is also a popular drama these days. There is a scene where Se-yeon (Ha Ji-won), who appears as the granddaughter of the main character, Ja Geum-sun (Go Doo-shim), takes her half-cousin (Kang Ha-neul) to a private studio. The exotic building standing against the blue sea is very impressive. It is Jukseong Dream Catholic Church in Gijang.
It was a set made to film the 2009 drama 'Dream,' but the Catholic church standing on the coastal cliff is so pretty that tourists fallen in love with it ever since it was built. The morning scenery with the red sun rising behind the romantic church is like a scene from a melodrama. On clear, cloudless nights, you can see the twinkling stars, so it is Gijang's representative attraction visited by tourists day and night.
Overview
Address
Busan Open Event Venue (Jeongsimjae): 60, Hwangnyeongsan-ro 7beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan
Mangyang-ro(mountainside road) Chowon Apartment: 135-9, Yeongcho-gil, Jung-gu, Busan
Taejongdae Park: 24, Jeonmang-ro, Yeongdo-gu, Busan
Jukseong Dream Filming Location: Jukseong-ri, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan
Closing Dates
Busan Open Event Venue (Jeongsimjae): Saturday and Sunday
Hours
Busan Open Event Venue (Jeongsimjae): Monday ~ Friday 09:00-17:00
Service Fees
Free
Traffic Information
Busan Open Event Venue (Jeongsimjae)
A 13-minute walk from Exit 2 of Namcheon station on Busan Metro Line 2
Mangyang-ro(mountainside road) Chowon Apartment
An 11-minute walk from Exit 1 of Busan station on Busan Metro Line 1
Taejongdae Park
Exit 7 of Busan Station on Busan Metro Line 1 → Transfer to bus 66, 88, or 101 at
Busan Station Bus Stop → Get off at Taejongdae Park•Taejongdae Hot Springs Bus
stop
Parking: Taejongdae Park Parking Lot
Jukseong Dream Filming Location
Exit 1 of Gijang station on the Donghae Line → Take the town shuttle bus Gijang-gun 6 at the Gijang Catholic Church stop → Get off at the Jukseong Dream Filming Set stop and walk for 1 minute
Parking lot across from Jukseong Dream Filming Location
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