When you think of Busan, you either think of the fresh seafood market (aka Jagalchi Market) or the rows of colorful houses on the foothills of a coastal mountain. Whilst most would just see these houses as one of Busan’s most Instagrammable spots, Gamcheon Culture Village was formed by the refugees of the Korean war and this tourist attraction remains an actual residential village till today.
No one should say that they’ve ever been to Busan unless they have visited the Gamcheon Culture Village. So if you’ve never been to this tourist attraction, here are some things that you can look forward to during your visit to the Gamcheon Culture Village.
As you’d now be aware, Gamcheon Culture Village was built on a coastal mountain and that only means one thing — steep slopes. If you’re driving around in Busan, it would pay to bear in mind that this is a popular tourist attraction and hence, parking near Gamcheon Culture Village is likely limited. You’d probably end up parking at least halfway down the slope to the village so do be prepared for a hike.
As for public transport, do make it a point to alight at the bus stop before Gamcheon Culture Village so that you don’t have to climb any slopes. If not, you can also hailing a cab and be dropped off right outside the entrance of this village.
Whilst there is no lack of things to do, see and eat at the Gamcheon Culture Village, we had our sights set on the Gamcheon Bakery which is famous for their Gamcheon Salt Bread (2,500 won) and their Moon Bread (2,500 won). Whilst we didn’t have a taste of the Gamcheon Salt Bread, we felt that their Moon Bread was average at best and would recommend you give the bakes a miss.
But, if you’re looking for a spot to getaway from the bustling crowd in the village, Gamcheon Bakery is perched upon a hill and the views from the bakery are pretty solid. There are also various wall murals and sculptures around the bakery which are decent photo spots.
Gamcheon Culture Village offers a plethora of food options for those hungry for a bite. From street food stalls which offer the usual street snacks like hotteok, fish cakes and tteokbokki, or cafes such as Coffee It House, Cafe Stairs Wi Pureun House and Cafe Avant-garde, you will struggle to stay hungry during your time at the village.
Apart from the colorful rows of terraced houses, Gamcheon Culture Village is also famous for alleys which are filled with street art and sculptures. Here, walls, roofs, doors and stairs have been transformed into beautiful forms of art, all of which carry its own significance, whether it is to raise awareness about social causes or to celebrate cultures. And for those who are K-pop fans, you may even catch a glimpse of your favourite K-pop groups in the village — BTS anyone?
Fans of The Little Prince must grab a photo with The Little Prince and fox sculpture at this photo spot which offers views of the entire Gamcheon Culture Village and the bay of Busan. That said, this is probably the most popular photo spot in Gamcheon Culture Village so queues for this photo spot are quite long so you should be prepared to wait if you want to secure a shot with this view.
If you have the time to spare, some other interesting experiences that you can take part in at the Gamcheon Culture Village include making a hand-flipped photobook, renting a hanbok, collecting stamps around the village, and visiting the Haneul Maru Observatory.
Gamcheon Culture Village
203 Gamnae-2-ro, Saha-gu,
Busan, South Korea
