Busan Round Two

One of the best parts about studying abroad in Korea is having the opportunity to explore places beyond Seoul. Although I had already visited Busan once during my time abroad, I recently returned for another trip with a friend and actually enjoyed this visit even more than the first. Between swimming at beaches, trying local food, discovering delicious pastries, and spending an afternoon at a Korean spa, it was a great opportunity to experience another side of Korea.

Getting to Busan

One of the more unusual parts of this trip was how we got there. Usually one would take the train to Busan, but because of the public holiday, flights were similarly priced to train tickets, and there were more flight options available. We decided to fly from Gimpo Airport to Busan and take the train back to Seoul. The flight was unbelievably short. With only around 40-minutes in the air, it almost felt like we had barely taken off before it was time to land. What surprised me even more was how efficient Gimpo Airport was. We got through security and made it to our gate in roughly ten minutes. Compared to the airport experiences I have had elsewhere, it was impressive how quick and convenient getting to Busan was.

Pork Soup and a Rainy Beach Day

After landing, our first priority was food. We headed out for dwaeji-gukbap, a traditional Busan dish consisting of rice served with pork in a warm, savory broth. It was delicious and a great introduction to the city's food. If you visit Busan, it is definitely worth trying. After lunch, we headed to Haeundae Beach, one of Busan's most famous beaches. Even though it's October, we decided to try swimming out. The water was colder than I expected, and the waves were surprisingly strong. It was still a lot of fun though, and getting to swim in the ocean was a nice change from spending most of my time exploring Seoul's busy streets. We also got incredibly lucky with the weather, or unlucky, depending on how you look at it. Just as we were getting out of the water and leaving the beach, it started pouring. By the time we made it off the sand, we were completely soaked. At least we got to enjoy our swim before the rain arrived.

Gwangalli Beach

The next day we visited Gwangalli Beach, which turned out to be my favorite of the two beaches. The weather was much nicer, and the water was warmer, shallower, and considerably calmer. Swimming there was a much more relaxing experience than at Haeundae, and it was easy to understand why many prefer Gwangalli. Of course, no beach day would be complete without more food. We found a shop selling incredibly realistic fruit-shaped pastries. Each pastry was designed to look just like its fruit flavor, including apples, mangoes, raspberries, and more. While their appearances were impressive, the best part was the texture: a crunchy outer shell, a soft cream filling, and real pieces of fruit inside. They were delicious, and I would happily go back for another try. After our pastry stop, we went for some fresh sushi, which was another highlight of the trip. Between the seafood, pastries, and pork soup, Busan certainly gave me plenty of reasons to keep exploring its food scene.

Spa Land

For our final major activity, we visited Spa Land. After spending the previous days walking around the city and swimming at the beach, it was the perfect way to relax before heading back to Seoul. Spa Land offers a variety of Korean spa experiences, including different sauna rooms, hot baths, footbaths, and jjimjilbang facilities. A jjimjilbang is a traditional Korean communal bathing and relaxation space, where people move between heated rooms and baths, eat, and simply spend time unwinding. My favorite part was the hottest sauna room, which reached around 79°C. I was sweating almost immediately but didn't let that stop me from taking a quick nap inside. It was an experience unlike anything I had tried before but surprisingly enjoyable. We also took time to relax in the baths, eat some tteokbokki, and sleep in a hammock. The most shocking thing is that the entrance fee is only ~$15. It was a relaxing and budget-saving way to enjoy our final hours of the trip.
 

Even though this was my second time visiting Busan, the trip gave me a new appreciation for the city. From the local food and different beaches to the unique experience of a Korean spa, there was plenty to enjoy without feeling like we were simply repeating our previous visit. One thing I have particularly enjoyed about studying abroad is how easy it is to turn a few days into a completely different experience, whether that means exploring a new city, trying an unfamiliar dish, or discovering a new part of Korean culture. Busan offered all three, and I am glad I had the chance to return.