Tourist Attractions | When in Busan

Pure, untainted Bongsan Village, Yeongdo

Add breath to an empty space to blossom into culture and arts

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Seated at the bottom of Bongnaesan Mountain in Yeongdo, Busan, Bongsan Village is crowded with unusual houses. The area was home to many laborers working in the shipyards that enjoyed a boom back in the day but, since then, a recession in the shipbuilding industry and deactivation as a New Town area led to the departure of a great number of people. Once, 87 out of some 400 buildings were vacated but, thanks to an Urban Regeneration New Deal project that started in 2018, Bongsan Village once again became a great place to live.

Empty houses have become occupied by cafe and bookstores that are great places to visit for locals and tourists alike, and once-quiet streets are now filled with the laughter of visitors. The streets are narrow and maze-like but the view of the clear sea of Yeongdo, warm sunlight that dwells on every corner of the alleyways, and other charms and attractions are eagerly waiting to be found by you! Let's visit Bongsan Village known for its amazing skyline formed by colorful houses and a nice view of Busanhang Port.

1. Complete transformation of Bongsan Village

New energy is coming alive in Bongsan Village, a newly born town thanks to the Urban Regeneration New Deal project. There are many empty houses that have been remodeled to become valuable places. The most notable venue is the Urban Regeneration Project Field Support Center. An independent bookstore, which opened in February 2021 and has become a must-visit place in Bongsan Village, is at the heart of the New Deal project and located in the center of the project site.

There is something special about this independent bookstore. Here, you can not only read special books that are rarely found in other bookstores but also try teas and desserts that you cannot taste anywhere else! When you step foot onto the rooftop, you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the sea in front of Yeongdo. This is a must-visit attraction if you wish to enjoy food for your soul, tasty tea and a great view of Busan!

There is a place you must stop by before going to the Urban Regeneration Project Field Support Center. This place is the Bongsan Check-in Center, which is also known as Insa Cafe! Filled with cute and fresh plants, the Center serves as a rest area for local residents and tourists alike.

2. Medium connecting the past and the present

Bongsan Village has become a better place to live for those who had been living in the area thanks to remodeling of many of the spaces as a result of the Urban Regeneration New Deal project.

This guesthouse, which has been transformed into nice accommodations after remodeling an empty house, is also being managed by the Village Management Social Cooperative of Bongsan Village. You can also enjoy a light barbecue on the rooftop. It would be a wonderful experience to enjoy a delicious BBQ and a warm cup of tea while looking out onto the sea in front of Yeongdo as the lights that turn on one by one begin to color the waters. The profits generated from the guesthouse are used for development of the village.

3. Experience space with value of culture and arts

Bongsan Village won a prize at the 2021 Korea City Renaissance Industry Expo, mainly thanks to its “We will give you an empty house, Come and live here” project. As a result of this project, the village became more revitalized and many young people moved into the area, which has transformed once-culturally barren Yeongdo into a town filled with the value of culture and arts. In different corners of Bongsan Village, there are numerous culture and art experience spaces run by young people, including “Larboard: Dream of Wooden Boat,” a wooden boat manufacturer where you can try making wooden boat models, and “Our Neighborhood Workshop: Mokgeumto” that offers a ceramic art experience.

In addition to workshops that offer excitement for your hands, there are also experience spaces that will make your mouth water. Bongsan Campus run by a flower tea sommelier and Cheongmagaok, a cafe during the day and a bar at night. At Bongsan Campus, you can taste different kinds of flower tea and, at Cheongmagaok, you have a chance to try a variety of cocktails and also learn how to make them.

* For more information, please visit Visit Busan > Travel Preparation Guidebook & Map and refer to the guidebook on Masil-gil, Yeongdo Bongsan Village.

Overview

Address
(Very Very Good Bongsan Center), 32 Odongkkot-gil, Yeongdo-gu, Busan
Inquiry
+82-507-1458-2062
Website
https://bongsan.org/
Closing Dates
Sundays
Hours
Monday–Saturday 08:00–18:00
Service Fees
Free
Traffic Information
Exit 6, Nampo Station, Busan Metro Line 1 → Transfer to Bus No. 6, 9 at Yeongdodaegyo Bus Stop → Bongnae-dong Bus Stop (Bus No. 6), Samgeori Barber Shop (Bus No. 9), a 5-min walk