Themed Tour | Recommended Tour

Busan's 3 Vintage Photo Spots Filled with Analog Vibes

Written and Photographed by Travel Writer Shin KyungMin

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Just as fashion that was popular in the past will be fashionable again in the present one day, I sometimes miss the vibes of the old days when new things are constantly being created. There are quite a few places in Busan with the retro vibes, but today I visited a vintage spot full of analog vibes. So if you would like to enjoy the vibes of those days, check out the Busan vintage spot introduced today.

Geumgang Botanical Garden

Geumgang Botanical Garden in Oncheon-dong was established in 1969 as Korea's first private botanical garden. These days, old facilities are often refurbished over time, but that is not the case here, so you can feel that it is an old place from the entrance.
Admission is pretty cheap at 1,000 won. As soon as you buy a ticket and enter, you can see the road covered in blue, and you will start to relax immediately. If you go up the stone stairs in front of you, you will see that it’s covered with moss here and there, and the traces of time are all over the place, giving you a mysterious feeling.

Even though Geumgang Botanical Garden is not a large place, there are various trees and flowers, and the internal facilities, such as a greenhouse and a small artificial fountain, are well maintained.
As you take a walk while enjoying the refreshing scent of wood, you will arrive at the greenhouse located above. The moss, ivy vines, and old iron structures covering the greenhouse outside give a retro feel. Although the interior was small, it was a beautiful space with sunlight penetrating the window and filled with a variety of species, such as 580 species of tropical plants and 540 types of succulents.

Busandaegyo Bridge

There are many bridges in Busan: Gwangandaegyo Bridge, Busanhangdaegyo Bridge, Yeongdodaegyo Bridge, Hwamyeongdaegyo Bridge, and more. And there is a bridge that many people cross often without even knowing tis name. It is Busandaegyo Bridge. A lot of people mistake Busandaegyo Bridge for Busanhangdaegyo Bridge, but the bridge right next to Yeongdodaegyo Bridge is Busandaegyo Bridge.

The construction of Busandaegyo Bridge began in 1976 and was completed in 1980 after an explosive increase in traffic in this part of the city. Busan Port celebrated its 100소 anniversary ii 1976.. At the time, Busandaegyo Bridge was not only a symbol of the port opening, but quite a colorful bridge built with Korean technology and materials. Therefore, it was a bridge that served as a city landmark until Gwangandaegyo Bridge was built.

There are two stairs and an elevator at each end of Busandaegyo Bridge for pedestrians, but there is some inconvenience due to the narrow sidewalk. However, the cool breeze felt from the top of the bridge provides an enjoyable experience. Around Busandaegyo Bridge, there are a number of places that offer a panoramic view of the bridge such as Lotte Department Store Sky Garden or Lavalse Hotel Roof Garden, in addition to many attractions such as Yeongdodaegyo Bridge, Busanhangdaegyo Bridge, and Busan Port, all of which are worth a visit.

Yangdabang

If you want to enjoy real retro, there is a place you must go. It is Yangdabang, located in Kangkangee Arts Village. The vibes from the exterior made me feel as if I had entered the 60s.
As soon as I opened the door and entered, the inside seemed like it had been frozen in the 1960s and 70s, as if I had traveled back in time. Although I had never lived in that era, I looked around curiously for a long time in wonder because it seemed as if it had been taken from a movie or a drama. Every little item, including the furniture and the interior, was truly vintage. The taste of the medicianal herb tea called “ssanghwacha” I tried for the first time was also exquisite. It's not too far from Busandaegyo Bridge, so I recommend you visit it as well.

Bosu-dong Book Street

During the Korean War, when Busan was the provisional capital, the present-day Bosu-dong Book Street began by selling magazines from units of United States Forces Korea. Dozens of stores have been built since the first bookstore, but as time passed, many have disappeared, and only a few have remained.

As soon as you enter the alley, you can see old books piled up on old bookshelves and sales tables, giving off very different vibes from modern bookstores. Some of the books are currently on sale in the market, but if you look closely, you may find books that are not available in the market now, so people looking for such books come. In the past, it used to be crowded with people buying, selling, or exchanging books, but now it is filled with people looking for retro alley vibes.

Today, new small cafes and book-related sculptures are opening all over Bosu-dong Book Street, making it a perfect place for tourists. In the middle of the street, the stairs and ivy showing traces of time add to the weight of many years, creating a dream-like atmosphere.
Once you enter the street, you have to walk slowly and look closely. And if you find a book you like, it would be a good idea to buy it. So enjoy the slow flow of time amid the books piled up on the old bookshelves.

Overview

Address
Geumgang Botanical Garden: 221, Ujangchun-ro, Dongnae-gu, Busan
Busandaegyo Bridge: Jungang-dong 7-ga, Jung-gu, Busan
Yangdabang: 49, Daepyeong-ro, Yeongdo-gu, Busan
Bosu Book Street: 16, Chaekbanggolmok-gil, Jung-gu, Busan
Inquiry
Geumgang Botanical Garden: +82-51-582-3284
Yangdabang: +82-51-416-1117
Hours
Geumgang Botanical Garden: 08:00~17:00
Yangdabang: 07:30-18:00 (Mon-Sat) / 09:00-18:00 (Sun)
Bosu Book Street: Varies by shop
Service Fees
Geumgang Botanical Garden: Entrance fee of 1,000 won for adults (The fee varies by age group)
Yangdabang: Varies by menu
Traffic Information
Geumgang Botanical Garden
From Exit 4, Dongnae Station on Subway Line 1 → Transfer to village bus Dongnae-gu 1-1 from Exit 4, Dongnae Station
→ Get off at Geumgang Botanical Garden and walk for 2 minutes
Parking: Geumgang Park Public Parking Lot

Busandaegyo Bridge
A 8-minute walk from exit 10 of Nampo Station on Busan Metro Line 1

Yangdabang
Exit 6 of Nampo Station on Busan Metro Line 1 → Transfer to Bus 6 at Yeongdodaegyo Bridge·Nampo Station Bus Stop
→ Get off at Kangkangee Arts Village Bus Stop and walk for 8 min

Bosu Book Street
Walk for 11 min from Exit 3 of Jagalchi Station on Busan Metro Line 1
Get off Bus 40 or 81 at Bosu Book Street
Get off Bus 103, 11, 113, 8, or 96 at Bupyeong Market