Short answer
Busan is divided into 16 areas: 15 districts (gu) and one county, Gijang-gun. Most first trips cover five or six of them: Haeundae and Suyeong for the beaches, Jung-gu for Nampo and Jagalchi Market, Saha-gu for Gamcheon Culture Village, and Busanjin-gu for Seomyeon. Use the numbered map and checklist below to find the rest. TapSeoul's My Korea map has a Busan tab where you can fill in each district as you go.
Quick facts
- Districts in Busan
- 16 (15 gu + Gijang-gun)
- Haeundae Beach is in
- Haeundae-gu
- Gamcheon Culture Village is in
- Saha-gu
- Jagalchi Market is in
- Jung-gu
- Gimhae Airport is in
- Gangseo-gu
- Subway fare with a card
- ₩1,600 (up to 10 km)
How many districts does Busan have?
Busan has 16 local government areas: 15 districts called gu (구) and one county, Gijang-gun (기장군), on the northeast coast. Like Seoul, each district is divided into neighborhoods called dong.
A few things that confuse visitors:
- Seomyeon, Nampo-dong, Gwangalli and Centum City are neighborhoods, not districts. They sit in Busanjin-gu, Jung-gu, Suyeong-gu and Haeundae-gu.
- Many Korean cities have a Jung-gu, Seo-gu, Dong-gu, Nam-gu and Buk-gu. The names simply mean Central, West, East, South and North. Busan and Seoul even share a Jung-gu and a Gangseo-gu ("west of the river").
- Gimhae International Airport is in Busan's Gangseo-gu, even though it is named after the neighboring city of Gimhae.
Map of Busan's 16 districts
The numbers match the tables below.
Old port downtown (1–4)
| # | District | Known for | Easy station to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jung-gu 중구 | Nampo-dong, Jagalchi Fish Market, Gukje Market, BIFF Square, Busan Tower in Yongdusan Park | Nampo |
| 2 | Seo-gu 서구 | Songdo Beach and its sea cable car, Amnam Park | Toseong, then bus |
| 3 | Dong-gu 동구 | Busan Station, Chinatown, Choryang Ibagu-gil and the 168 Stairs | Busan Station |
| 4 | Yeongdo-gu 영도구 | Taejongdae cliffs, Huinnyeoul Culture Village, the drawbridge Yeongdo Bridge | Nampo, then bus over the bridge |
Central Busan (5–8)
| # | District | Known for | Easy station to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Busanjin-gu 부산진구 | Seomyeon, Jeonpo Café Street, Busan Citizens Park | Seomyeon |
| 6 | Dongnae-gu 동래구 | Dongnae hot springs, Dongnae-eupseong fortress, Sajik Baseball Stadium | Oncheonjang |
| 7 | Yeonje-gu 연제구 | Busan City Hall, Asiad Main Stadium | City Hall |
| 8 | Geumjeong-gu 금정구 | Beomeosa temple, Geumjeongsanseong fortress, the Pusan National University area | Beomeosa |
East coast (9–12)
| # | District | Known for | Easy station to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Nam-gu 남구 | Oryukdo Skywalk, UN Memorial Cemetery, Igidae coastal walk | Kyungsung Univ.·Pukyong Nat'l Univ. |
| 10 | Suyeong-gu 수영구 | Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge views, Millak raw-fish town, F1963 | Gwangan |
| 11 | Haeundae-gu 해운대구 | Haeundae Beach, Dongbaekseom, Haeundae Blueline Park, Centum City and BEXCO | Haeundae |
| 12 | Gijang-gun 기장군 | Haedong Yonggungsa temple, Osiria resort and outlets, Ilgwang Beach | Osiria (Donghae Line) |
West and the Nakdong River (13–16)
| # | District | Known for | Easy station to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Saha-gu 사하구 | Gamcheon Culture Village, Dadaepo Beach, Molundae | Dadaepo Beach |
| 14 | Sasang-gu 사상구 | Busan West Intercity Bus Terminal, Samnak Ecological Park | Sasang |
| 15 | Buk-gu 북구 | Gupo Market, Hwamyeong Ecological Park by the Nakdong River | Gupo |
| 16 | Gangseo-gu 강서구 | Gimhae International Airport, Gadeokdo island, Daejeo Ecological Park | Airport (Busan-Gimhae Light Rail) |
Which districts do most first-time visitors see?
A classic first trip to Busan follows the coast: Haeundae for the beach and Blueline Park, Suyeong for Gwangalli at night, Jung-gu for Nampo-dong and Jagalchi, Saha for the painted houses of Gamcheon, Busanjin for Seomyeon's food alleys and Gijang for Haedong Yonggungsa. Add Gangseo if you flew into Gimhae. That is six or seven districts out of 16.
Districts most visitors miss (and why to go)
- Yeongdo-gu: The cliffs of Taejongdae and the seaside lanes of Huinnyeoul Culture Village are a short bus ride from Nampo-dong, and much quieter.
- Dong-gu: Right outside Busan Station. The Choryang Ibagu-gil walk and the 168 Stairs show the hillside neighborhoods that grew up during the Korean War.
- Seo-gu: Songdo Beach is Korea's first public beach, with a cable car over the bay.
- Dongnae-gu: Soak in a hot-spring bath, then walk the old fortress wall. A cable car from nearby Geumgang Park climbs Geumjeongsan.
- Geumjeong-gu: Beomeosa, one of Busan's great temples, sits in the forest near the northern end of Line 1.
- Nam-gu: The Oryukdo Skywalk and the Igidae coastal path have some of the best views of the city.
- Buk-gu and Sasang-gu: Riverside parks along the Nakdong, quiet green spaces that few visitors see.
Getting around with T-money
The same T-money card you use in Seoul works in Busan: on all four subway lines, the Busan-Gimhae Light Rail, the Donghae Line along the east coast, city buses and most taxis.
With a card, an adult subway ride costs ₩1,600 for up to 10 km and ₩1,800 beyond that; a city bus costs ₩1,550. Busan's fares are slightly higher than Seoul's, so check your balance before a long day. The T-money card guide covers buying, topping up and refunds.
How do I track which districts I've visited?
TapSeoul's My Korea map has a Busan tab with all 16 districts drawn to their real shape. It counts as you go, for example 9 / 16 places visited.
- By hand: tap a district, choose Date unknown or Today, and tap I’ve been here.
- From photos: tap From photos to bring back districts from earlier trips. TapSeoul reads only where and when each photo was taken, on your phone, and asks you to review the places before adding them.
- On the spot: tap I’m here now to check your location once and confirm the district.
Then tap Share map to send your Busan as an image. The full how-to, including Seoul and the rest of Korea, is in Map every place you've been in Korea, and Seoul has its own 25-district checklist.
FAQ
How many districts are there in Busan?
Sixteen: 15 districts (gu) and one county, Gijang-gun.
Which district is Haeundae Beach in?
Haeundae-gu, on the east coast. The district also includes Dongbaekseom, Haeundae Blueline Park, Centum City and BEXCO.
Which district is Gamcheon Culture Village in?
Saha-gu, in western Busan. Most visitors reach it by bus from Toseong Station on Line 1.
Is Seomyeon a district?
No. Seomyeon is a neighborhood and shopping area in Busanjin-gu, around Seomyeon Station, where Lines 1 and 2 meet.
Is Gijang part of Busan?
Yes. Gijang-gun is Busan's only county, on the northeast coast. It includes Haedong Yonggungsa temple, Osiria and Ilgwang Beach.
Can I use my T-money card in Busan?
Yes. T-money works on Busan's subway, the Busan-Gimhae Light Rail, the Donghae Line, city buses and most taxis. An adult subway ride with a card starts at ₩1,600.
TapSeoul is an independent app by gatepop inc. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by T-money.
No account. Cards and visited places are stored only on your phone. Photos are processed on the device and never uploaded. Optional analytics stays off until you opt in.
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