AOFOG 2024

About Busan

Busan is the 2nd largest city and number one trading hub in Korea, with a population of 3.4 million and a total area of 770.2 square kilometers as of 2021. Since opening Korea’s first international port in 1876, the city has become a hub of trade, commerce and industry.

Global events including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference, Busan International Film Festival and Busan International Fireworks Festival, as well as various sea-related festivals are held throughout the year. The city is also a tourist destination and home to Asia’s largest department store, Haeundae beach, and a yacht marina. Located on the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, Busan is a historic city that served as the temporary capital during the Korean War and refuge for men, women and children fleeing the North to build new lives.

Transportation

Busan Metro

The Busan Metro consists of subway lines 1–4, the Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit (BGL), and the Donghae Line, connecting major city areas across Busan, Gimhae, and Yangsan in Gyeongsangnam-do.
It is a convenient way to reach your desired destination. It operates from 05:00 to 23:59. The schedule for the first and last trains varies depending on the subway station. The intervals also vary depending on the time zone. For more details, please refer to the website or the subway schedule inside the station.

Tickets

a single-use subway ticket
transit pass
commutation tickets

There are one-day, weekly, and monthly commutation tickets from which you can choose. The cost of the single-use ticket can vary depending on the travel distance although there is no difference in price among stations for commutation tickets. You can easily purchase a subway ticket using a ticket machine inside the station.

Busan Metro Overview Shortcut
Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit Overview Shortcut

Bus

Busan’s buses often travel up and down the mountains due to the topographical features of the city with a number of mountains.
Highly experienced bus drivers, for whom driving along narrow paths in an old town is a piece of cake, will help you get to your destination in a safe and fast way.
There are several bus types: regular bus, city bus with guaranteed seats, express city bus with guaranteed seats, and shuttle bus.
You can recognize the bus type by looking at the bus number. Regular buses have numbers ranging from 1 to 500, city bus in 58-1, 203, 221, or 3nn, regular express city bus in 1nnn, and non-stop express city bus in 2nnn. There is no separate night bus. Please note that an extra charge will occur once it is past 23:40.

Busan Bus Overview Shortcut

Airport Limousine

There is a bus route connecting the Gimhae International Airport to Haeundae New Town. Airport Limousine is a fast way to reach Haeundae from the airport through the Dongseo Expressway and Hwangnyeongsan Tunnel. It has the same route from the Gimhae International Airport to the Haeundae Beach of Bus No. 307; nevertheless, it stops in Namcheon-dong, Gwangan-dong, and at Suyeong Junction. It takes about an hour, which is about the same when you use the Busan Metro. If you find it difficult to drag your luggage and transfer to another subway line, the Airport Limousine would be a better choice.

Airport Limousine Overview Shortcut

Transfer: You can get transfer discounts, limited to twice per travel, if you transfer within a time limit of 30 minutes to a different or the same mode of transportation (such as intracity bus, subway, and shuttle bus) with a different route. To get discounts, you must hold a transit pass and bring it into contact with a fare reader on your way out of an intracity bus or a subway station. As for the Busan Metro, transfer discounts are available only when you stay inside the subway platform. Please note that there is no transfer discount available for the Airport Limousine.

Transit Pass: A transit pass is an electronic payment method used for transportation. You can also make a payment with it just like cash at any place such as a convenient store if the transit pass payment system is available. After purchasing a transit pass, you can add as much money as you want to your pass. Every time you use it, the amount comes off from your original balance. If you have a transit pass, you can also get transportation and transfer discounts.
Hanaro Card is the official transit pass used in Busan although you can also get transfer discounts by using other regional Mybi, T-money, and Cashbee cards including the Gimhae-for-you Card along with the deferred payment transit passes.
You can add money to your transit pass by using a ticket machine inside the Busan Metro stations and the railway stations along the Donghae Line or at convenience stores and Busan Bank branches.

From the Airport to Downtown Busan

Gimhae International Airport is where all the international and domestic flights for Busan arrive. It is located about an hour away from downtown Busan. There are many convenient ways to reach downtown Busan from the airport.

Bus	You can take an intracity bus, airport limousine, express intracity bus, shuttle bus, and intracity bus. The fares vary depending on the bus type and your destination.
Subway	Taking light rail transit at the airport and transferring at Sasang Station (Busan Metro Line 2) or Daejeo Station (Busan Metro Line 3) is the best and cheapest way to get to downtown Busan.
Taxi	Busan has three major taxi types: regular, deluxe, and large taxis. Although deluxe and large taxis costs 50% more compared to a regular taxi, they are larger in size and more luxurious. ※The actual travel duration and fare may be subject to change.

Free Interpretation Mobile app

Must-download free mobile app for foreign, LIFE IN BUSAN

Interpreting services: phone interpreting, chat counseling

How do I apply for free interpreting services?

Step 1. Download ‘Life in Busan’ mobile app on Google Play or App Store
Step 2. Tap the ‘Interpreting / Counseling’, select your lanuguage among 12, and just tap ‘Call’ or ‘Chat’ button
※ Sign-up is not mandatory for phone interpreting and chat counseling.

Who are interpreters?

170 volunteers are consisted of Busan citizens and foreign residents.

Download App

Visit Busan Pass

With one pass, anyone can freely use more than 30 paid tourist facilities in Busan, get discounts at more than 50 restaurants, shopping, activities, accommodation, and other tourist facilities.
Even more, the physical card provided through the rechargeable transportation card is designed with the beautiful characteristic of Busan. It has sufficient value as a souvenir as it holds the beauty of Busan.

VISIT BUSAN PASS

What kinds of benefits can I receive using the VISIT BUSAN PASS?