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• • Gukje Market (International Market)

    Jung-gu, Junggu-ro 42, Busan Metropolitan City
  • Gukje Market (International Market) was formed in the Shinchang-dong area. Nearing the end of WWII, the area was left vacant during the liberation of the country to avoid allied air raids. The market initially began as returning Koreans traded goods left behind by the Japanese who fled back to their homeland, along with items provided by the Allied forces. Originally called "Dottegi Market" and "Free Market," it became known as "Gukje Market" in the 1950s, reflecting its role as a marketplace where Korean, American, and Japanese goods were traded.
    The market flourished from the 1950’s to the 1960’s, leading the latest trends of the time and growing in tandem with Korea’s modern history. It also played a key role as a home for wartime refugees during the Korean War and later became a major commercial hub in Korea. This gives it great significance in both cultural and economic history.
    In 2014, the release of the film ‘Ode to My Father’ (which shares the same name in Korean as the market) attracted over 10 million viewers, significantly boosting tourism at Gukje Market. Notably, “Kkotbunine,” one of the real filming locations, is now operated as a coffee shop and serves as a symbolic spot within the market. The market itself has been modernized, with the installation of arcades and other updates.
    Gukje Market has been recognized for its historical value and has been designated as a Busan Future Heritage site.
  

• • Bupyeong Kkangtong Market

    Bupyeong-dong, Jung-gu, Busan Metropolitan City
  • Bupyeong Kkangtong Market began as a marketplace established by Korean residents in the Bupyeong-dong and Seo-gu areas after the Busan’s port opened. The market expanded significantly when a large number of Japanese settlers arrived. In 1910, it became the first public market in Korea. After the Korean War, during the 1970s, the market gained popularity for selling U.S. military canned goods, earning the nickname "Kkangtong Market" (Canned Goods Market). During the 1970s and 1980s, it was the only place in Busan where people could buy various foreign goods, making it highly popular. However, as foreign products became more accessible following trade liberalization, the market declined in popularity.
    In 2013, Bupyeong Kkangtong Market opened Korea’s first night market, offering not only traditional foods from around the world, but also traditional handicrafts from both Korea and abroad. The night market has become a successful example of a permanent night market and is now one of Busan’s most famous nighttime tourist attractions.
    Recognizing its cultural and historical value, the market has been designated as a Future Heritage Site by Busan Metropolitan City.
  

• • Bosudong Bookstore Alley

    8, Bosudong 1-ga, Jung-gu, Busan Metropolitan City
  • Bosudong Bookstore Alley is a specialized street in Busan’s Jung-gu district, where numerous secondhand bookstores are clustered along narrow alleys. It is the only street in Korea dedicated to secondhand bookstores. The alley’s origins trace back to the Korean War, when the Wartime United University, an emergency coalition of 10 universities, including Seoul National University, was established in Busan. Many of the makeshift campuses were set up around Gudoksan Mountain and Bosudong, which caused the area to become crowded with students.
    During this period, vendors began selling books, clothing, and necessities to students. As refugees set up makeshift bookstores along the alley where students commuted, the Bosudong Bookstore Alley naturally took shape. The alley became a vital space for students, providing access to all types of books and helping them continue their studies in difficult times. It also served as a place for cultural and educational exchanges among the general public.
    Today, the alley remains a popular spot for people looking to purchase affordable books and for tourists drawn by its retro charm. With over 50 years of history, it has become one of Busan’s prominent attractions, and new facilities like cafes and the Bookstore Alley Culture Center have been established. Despite the challenges posed by urban redevelopment and the closure of some bookstores, local residents are making continuous efforts to preserve this unique cultural heritage.
    Recognizing its significance, Bosudong Bookstore Alley has been designated as a Busan Future Heritage site.
  

• • Yeongdodaegyo (Yeongdo Bridge)

    190-1, Daegyo-dong 1-ga, Yeongdo-gu, Busan Metropolitan City
  • Yeongdo Bridge was a place filled with the sorrows and hopes of war refugees, serving as a meeting point for separated families. The bridge was raised seven times a day, and because of this symbolic act, many refugees gathered there, hoping to reunite with family members lost during the war. Surrounding the area, fortune-teller stalls thrived, as refugees sought guidance and solace from their hardships.
    The bridge, completed in 1934, was a modern steel bridge at the time, with a length of 214.7 meters and a width of 18 meters. It was officially named "Busan Bridge," but locals called it "Yeongdo Bridge." In 1982, a new bridge named "Busan Bridge" was built nearby, and the original bridge was renamed "Yeongdo Bridge." The raising of the bridge was halted in 1966, but it was restored in 2013 following expansion and restoration efforts, which also reintroduced the bridge's lifting mechanism. Today, a ceremonial raising of the bridge takes place every Saturday at 2 PM for 15 minutes.
    Due to its historical significance, Yeongdo Bridge has been designated as a monument by Busan Metropolitan City and is preserved as a cultural heritage site.
  

• • Bokbyeongsan Reservoir

    10 Saem-gil, Jung-gu, Busan Metropolitan City
  • 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.
  

• • Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) Jung-Busan Branch

    252 Gachigogae-ro, Seo-gu, Busan
  • Originally built in 1932 as the headquarters of Namsun Electric, the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) Jung-Busan Branch was the first building in Busan to be equipped with advanced heating and cooling systems as well as elevators. The structure, designed in the Renaissance Revival style, is an example of modern office buildings in Korea. It consists of four floors above ground and one basement level, constructed with reinforced concrete and finished with stone on the exterior.
    During the Korean War, when Busan served as the wartime capital, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry occupied part of the building for emergency use. It is now the location of KEPCO's Jung-Busan Branch.
    Recognized for its historical significance, the building is registered and managed as a National Registered Cultural Heritage site.
  

• • Gadeokdo Lighthouse

    10 Oe-yangpo-ro, Gangseo-gu, Busan
  • Located at the southernmost tip of Gadeokdo Island, Gadeokdo Lighthouse was completed and lit in 1909, serving as a navigational aid for ships. The lighthouse has an octagonal brick structure, with its exterior finished in white. It is one of the first buildings in Korea to incorporate Western architectural styles, materials, and decorative techniques, with its original form having been well-preserved.
    During the Korean War, the lighthouse played a crucial role in guiding ships carrying refugees and military supplies to Busan Port. For the refugees arriving by sea, the light from the lighthouse was a symbol of safety and hope.
    Recognized for its historical significance, Gadeokdo Lighthouse has been designated as a Tangible Cultural Heritage of Busan and is preserved and managed accordingly.
  

• • Main Building of Pukyong High School

    12 Mangyang-ro 33beon-gil, Seo-gu, Busan
  • The main building of Pukyong High School, completed in 1927, is a red brick structure that was used as the school building for Gyeongnam Commercial High School after Korea's liberation from Japan. At one time, it served as a military hospital and was requisitioned by U.S. forces during the Korean War, though it remains unclear what specific military purposes it was used for. Additionally, the dormitory within the school premises was utilized as a training center for the Women's Army Corps.
    This building, a typical example of a modern government office from that era, has been recognized for its historical significance and is registered and managed as a National Registered Cultural Heritage.
  

• • Busan Anglican Cathedral (Busan Diocese)

    5-1 Daecheong-ro 99beon-gil, Jung-gu, Busan
  • The Busan Anglican Cathedral is a Romanesque-style brick structure cathedral built in 1924. Its original interior layout featured a single-nave rectangular plan, but in 1964, side aisles were added, altering it to a two-nave layout. During the Korean War, the cathedral opened an orphanage to care for war orphans and raised funds for social relief efforts. It also established shelters to aid those in need. The cathedral housed refugees who fled to Busan during the war and, with the Ministry of National Defense's permission, organized the "Anglican Volunteer Corps" to provide food, clothing, and shelter to those in need.
    The cathedral is registered and managed as a National Registered Cultural Heritage site.