Category: Travel

LAB24 by Kumuda: Voted Busan’s Best Restaurant by La Liste

Posted in Busan News, Cafes, Cafes & Restaurants, Living, TravelLeave a comment

The city of Busan announced on December 2nd that the restaurant “LAB(Lab)24 By Kumuda” located in Songjeong had been named one of the best 1,000 restaurants in the world by La Liste.

La Liste is a gourmet guide that selects and announces the top 1,000 restaurants in the world every year for the purpose of providing the most reliable information by the French Tourist Board.

LAB24 by Kumuda, owned by Chef Edward Kwon, opened its doors in January of this year.

36 restaurants in Korea were selected, but LAB24 By Kumuda was the only restaurant selected outside of Seoul.

The Busan Fireworks Festival Returns

Posted in Busan News, Festivals & Events, LivingLeave a comment

The Busan Fireworks Festival, which had been postponed due to the “Itaewon Tragedy” will be returning this month.  

The Busan Fireworks Festival was originally scheduled for November 5th, but was indefinitely postponed after over 150 people lost their lives in the stampede in Seoul’s Itaewon on Halloween.

The city said that the 17th Busan Fireworks Festival will be held on Saturday, December 17th in Gwangalli Beach.

In order to host the event safely, the city said that they will double the number of safety personnel at the venue and there will be a capacity limit on the 16 streets of Gwangalli Beach.

The city will also install nearly 50 new CCTVs so that the area can be directly monitored and managed.

Meanwhile, the firework festival is scheduled to start at 7 p.m., one hour earlier as previously scheduled in preparation for the cold weather.

Special Event? Why Not Try a Makeup Artist in Busan?!

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Have you been in a situation where you felt so frustrated because you could not find a makeup artist for an upcoming event? This was the very situation that I was in recently.

I was the MC for a networking party and was in desperate need for a makeup artist. Luckily, I was introduced to Une of “A Makeup“, who was able to create the perfect look for me.

So, if you are looking for a makeup artist in Busan, keep scrolling!

General Information

Location: 2nd floor of the Centum Hotel, Centum 3-ro, Haeundae 

Hours of Operation: Open from 5 am to 7 pm (Closed on Wednesday)

Parking: Free parking is provided.

Contact: 010 4474 6696

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.makeup_official/

Price

Makeup on weekdays costs 99,000 won.

Makeup on weekends 121,000 won

Makeup + dry-styling your hair = price for makeup + 33,000 won

Makeup + upstyling your hair = price for makeup + 55,000 won

For men (hair & makeup) is 55,000 won

For weddings (hair & makeup included)

Bride makeovers cost 550,000 won.

Wedding photography costs 330,000 won.

For the parents: 220,000 won each

What to Expect

I brought some photos to my appointment so that I could better communicate my ideas with the makeup artist. After seeing the photos, she immediately understood what I wanted. I liked that she checked in with me and gave suggestions on the look.

The place was neat and decorated with all white. The place featured a fitting room, a makeup room and a salon.

The first question I was asked was if I want my skin to glow or to be bbosongbbosong (뽀송뽀송 in my rough translation, meaning, matte). Both sounded good, so I asked her what the difference was. She said that if I wanted to look good in person, I would want my skin to glow, but if I wanted to look good in pictures, I would want my skin to be bbosongboosong. (How Interesting!)

I was the MC for two days, so we decided to go with glowy skin/ hair down one day and bbosongbbosong skin / hair up the next day.

Both looked super nice. Let me share the photos of myself so that you can see the results.

The makeup took about 45 minutes and the hair took about 20 mins.

I felt comfortable being around Une. After getting to know her, I learned that she has been in this industry for more than 10 years and now also teaches at a private college in Busan. She is available for any occasion, including weddings and job interviews. Those interested in her work can also take makeup lessons from her.

How to Get There

If you drive, park your car in the Centum Hotel parking lot. Parking is free when getting a makeover.  

If you use public transportation, take the subway line #2. Get off at Centum City and use exit 3.

Conclusion

If you have a special event in Busan and want to look super good, I 100% recommend seeing the makeup artist, Une while you are here.

[This is NOT a sponsored post]

Busan Concerts in December 2022

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1. Geomi (거미)

Geomi, one of the top female kpop solo artists is holding a concert in Busan.

  • Date: 6pm on Saturday, December 3rd and 4 pm on Sunday, December 4th  
  • Venue: KBS Hall, Busan

2. Lim Jae-beom (임재범)

Legendary kpop singer, Lim Jaebeom will hold a domestic concert tour for the first time in 6 years. His tour information is listed below.

  • Date: 6 pm, on Saturday, December 10
  • Venue: Bexco  

3. La Poem (라포엠)

La Poem is a South Korean male crossover vocal group, consisting of four classically-trained singers, Chaehoon You, Gihun Park, Minsung Jeong, and Sunghoon Choi. La Poem was formed in 2020 via a reality TV auditioning program called, “Phantom Singer.”

  • Date: 6 pm on Sunday, December 17 and 5 pm on Sunday, December 18
  • Venue: Dream Theater (located in Munhyeon-dong, Nam-gu District)

4. MeloMance (멜로망스)

MeloMance is a South Korean duo. Since debuting in 2015, they have sung many OSTs for K-drama programs.

  • Date: 5 pm on Saturday, December 17 and 4 pm on Sunday, December 18
  • Venue: Bexco, Auditorium

5. YB

The rock band YB will be holding a nationwide tour entitled, “Lights.” They will perform twice in Busan.

  • Date: 6 pm, on Saturday, December 17 and 5 pm on Sunday, December 18
  • Venue: Shinhan Card Hall of Sohyang Theater, in the Centum City area

6. GOD (지오디)

All five members of the kpop boy group, G.O.D will go on tour for the first time in four years. 

  • Date: 7 pm on Saturday, December 24th and 5 pm on Sunday, December 25th
  • Venue: Bexco

7. K will (케이윌)

Famous Korean ballad singer, Kwill will be touring for the first time in three years. 

  • Date: 6 pm, on Saturday, December 24 and 5 pm, on Sunday, December 25
  • Venue: KBS Hall, Busan

8. Ailee (에일리)  

Korean-American singer Ailee will tour the country to mark the 10th year since her debut.

  • Date: 6 pm on Saturday, December 31
  • Venue: Bexco, Auditorium

9. Lim Chang-jeong (임창정)

Lim Changjeong’s tour will be themed, “Multiverse.”

  • Date: 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 31
  • Venue: Bexco

Jagalchi Market

Posted in Historical Locations, Natural Attractions, TravelLeave a comment

Jagalchi Market (Jagalchi Fish Market / 자갈치 시장)

Jalgalchi Market is one of the biggest and the most well-known fish markets here in Korea.

Though I am Korean living in Busan, I still think that Jagalchi Fish Market is very touristy, exotic and different.

General Information

History: Jagalchi combines two words, jagal meaning gravel and chi meaning a place. Geographically speaking, South Korea is surrounded by water, making fish a staple dish.

After the Korean War ended, vendors reportedly gathered on this graveled area and started selling fish. The men went fishing and the women sold their catch. This is believed to be the beginning of Jagalchi Market.

Location: Jagalchi Haean-ro 52, Jung-gu District, Busan

Hours: 5 am to 10 pm (closed on the first and third Tuesday of each month).

Parking: Parking is available for 700 won per 10 mins in the basement of the building called “Busan Jagalchi Market.”

What to Expect

1.Fresh Fish: You can find a variety of fish products including raw, dried, fried, cooked, and fermented catch. If you wish to purchase fresh fish, you can check out the vendors located inside the market. The name of one of these buildings is Jagalchi, and the other is called Shindonga (신동아). Most vendors also run a restaurant near their shop if you are just interested in sampling their seafood.

Personally, I thought that the inside of Jalgalchi market was very clean and did not smell.

2. Tough Ajummas: It was challenging dealing with these ajummas (ladies in her 40s, 50s or above). After you enter the building, these ladies would shout at you to buy their fish! Since I hate bargaining, I decided to just go to a regular restaurant in the market that specialized in raw fish.

The restaurant I visited was called Namhae Hoit-jib (남해 횟집), meaning Namhae raw fish. I ordered “모듬회 (assorted sliced raw fish),” and two “생선구이 정식 1인s (grilled fish meal For 1 person).” Their prices ranged from 10,000 to 90,000 won.

Like a typical Korean restaurant, a variety of side dishes (aka Banchans) were provided. At the end of the meal, “매운탕” (meaning spicy fish stew) was also provided for free.

How to Get There

Jagalchi Market is very close to the Nampo Subway Station, Line #1. Use 2nd exit and walk about 5 minutes.

Conclusion

Jagalchi Fish Market is more than just a fish market to many people in Busan. So, I recommend checking this place out, even if you are not a fan of seafood.

[This is NOT a sponsored post]

Busan Private Yacht Tour

Posted in Natural Attractions, Things to do with Kids, TravelLeave a comment

When I have special guests visiting Busan, I like to treat them a private yacht tour. I think it’s one of the best things to do in Busan! It lets you take an hour to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of Busan, while feeling like royalty! So far, I’ve never had any guests say they hated it. Today I will tell you about my experiences on a private yacht tour.

General Information

Yacht tours are becoming more popular in Busan, so you will want to book a tour in advance. The yacht departs from the Suyeong Bay Yachting Center [수영만 요트경기장] and it goes to Gwangalli Beach, passing under the Gwangan Bridge before returning to the Yachting Center. Overall, the tour takes about an hour.  

Private Yacht Tour Prices

Prices may vary between 200,000 won ($200) and 800,000 won ($800), depending on the time of day, the time of the year or the size of the boat. The most popular time to go on a yacht tour is around sunset in summer, making it the most expensive hour.  

How to Make a Reservation

I searched “Busan Yacht Tour” in Korean (부산 요트 투어) in Naver, which is the most used search engine in Korea. I wanted to book a private yacht tour at 6 pm in early November. I contacted several companies, but it turned out that there were not many available options. Some companies either told me that they were fully booked, and others charged $800 for an hour.

However, the company, Busan Yachtmate said that even though they were fully booked at 6 pm, they could offer a tour at 7 pm for 250,000 won (about $250). I quickly booked and paid for the tour online.

If you want to make a reservation, search “Busan Yachtmate.” Or you can direct message them via Instagram (@busan_yachtmate).  

What to Expect

  1. You will be required to wear a life jacket while on the boat: life jackets are provided before you board. They have special life jackets for those under three years old.  
  2. Shoe policy: I’ve been on different yacht tours before, but this was the first one that required the guests to take off their shoes before entering the yacht. There was even a shoe rack available on the pier.
  3. The tour takes an hour. If you get sea sick, please take medicine in advance.
  4. The boat was slightly smaller than I expected, but it featured two decks. The bottom deck had patio chairs and a bathroom. The upper deck was large enough to accommodate 10 people who wanted to enjoy the view.
  5. Personally, I enjoy yacht tours during the day time when the weather is nice, but evening tours are the most popular.

How to Get There

You can walk to the Suyeong Bay Yachting Center from the Marine City area.

If you drive, you can park at the Suyeong Bay Yachting Center for free. If you use public transportation, take the subway line #2 and get off at DongBaek Station [동백역]. The yachting center is about a 10 minute walk from the subway station.

Conclusion

I 100% recommend going on a yacht tour while you are in Busan.

[This is NOT a sponsored post]

The Hotel Art Fair is Back

Posted in Busan News, Festivals & Events, LivingLeave a comment

The 8th edition of Blue Art Fair is returning.

This year, the event will take place at one of the city’s trendiest hotels, Signiel Busan.

The 9th and 10th floors of the hotel will be transformed into show rooms for around 2,000 pieces of artwork.

Both local and foreign artists will present a variety of artwork within the unique exhibits.  

Date: From November 24th – 27th

Venue: Signiel Hotel, Dalmaji-gil 30, Haeundae, Busan

Ticket Price: 10,000 won

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Grand Josun Busan: Kids Room [Hotel Review]

Posted in Hotels, Things to do with Kids, TravelLeave a comment

Back in October, my family and I enjoyed our stay so much at the Grand Josun Busan that we wanted to come back. This time we stayed in the Kids Deluxe Twin Room that had an ocean view and I would like to tell you about it.   

What is Grand Josun Busan Like?

Grand Josun Busan is a 5 star hotel located right in front of Haeundae Beach. The hotel is very accessible, not only is it close to the beach, but to downtown Haeundae.

What Are the Rooms Like?  

I stayed in the Kids Deluxe Twin Room with an ocean View on the 8th floor. All of the rooms on the 8th floor were for families with kids. There were stickers attached to each door that described the theme of the room. For example, the room labeled “Under the Sea” looked out over the ocean while the one labeled “Forest” had a view of the city.

Each room featured two beds (one king sized bed and one super single sized bed), a bathroom, wardrobe, a bean bag chair and a table.

When I checked in, I was told by the staff that even though my room was advertised to have an ocean view, a swimming pool would be in between the hotel and the beach. I didn’t really mind, because the view of the swimming pool was not bad at all. However, at some point the swimming pool felt awkwardly close, but don’t worry, no one on the pool deck could see into the room.

The bean bag chair and the table were a little small, but the bottom part of the single sized bed could also be used as a table. That was quite convenient.

The other thing that I liked about the room was that it had a wooden floor. Personally, I prefer wood floors to carpet, especially when I travel with kids.

What About the Hotel Facilities?

Let me begin with the indoor and outdoor swimming pools that were on the 7th floor. To use either the swimming pool or the sauna, you were supposed to check in on the 6th floor and walk up to the 7th floor. You would receive a locker key when you checked in. If there were no lockers available, the staff could tell you to use one of the extra lockers outside of the locker room. You may use the locker room to change into your swim suit and then leave your stuff in a locker. Shoe racks were also available.

It was a little cold outside, but the water in the pool was the perfect temperature.

Meanwhile, one of the biggest downsides to this property would be their elevators. There are only 3 elevators in this 16-story building, which caused a long wait time, especially during check-in and check-out hours. Luckily, employees were standing in front of the elevators during the busy hours to help manage the crowds.

Conclusion

My family and I had a very good time at the Grand Josun Busan, and staying in Deluxe Kids Twin Room with an Ocean View was such a treat for my lovely kids. I would recommend this hotel to anyone looking to spend quality time with their family. Since this is my 2nd review of the Grand Josun Hotel, please check here to find more information.

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Dim Sum Restaurants You Must Try in Busan

Posted in Cafes, Cafes & Restaurants, TravelLeave a comment

There are many Chinese restaurants in Korea, but admittedly, most of them are Korean-styled Chinese restaurant. Surprisingly, there are not many Chinese restaurants that have good dim sum. So today in this blog post, I would like to introduce you to restaurants with good dim sums in Busan!

1. Dim Dim Sum

Located on the 9th floor of the Shinsegae Department Store Centum City, if you are looking for good quality dim sums in Busan, Dim Dim Sum won’t disappoint. This restaurant has a massive menu, with everything from dim sum to Peking style meats. My favorite menus include the Piggy Custard (7,000won), Shrimp stuffed Eggplant (6,500 won), and Wontan noodle soup (10,000 won).

The lines to Dim Dim Sum are always long. Though typically packed, there’s no making a reservation. The first people there get dim sums.

2. HaoSum

This Dim sum restaurant is also located in the Shinsegae Department Store Centum City. But this place felt more like food-court-ish. I probably got that feeling as it was located on the B1.

Haosum has different menus from Dim Dim Sum. Haosum specializes in cooking traditional Chinese dishes with their own modern twist. I recommend ordering their black prawn dumplings and their fried chicken. They also offer an extensive drink menu, featuring refreshing black tea beer and tangerine beer. 

3. Dim Tao, Haeundae

Haeridan-gil (Haeridan strip) is packed with many restaurants and cafes. Among them, Dim Tao is definitely one of the most popular ones.

Dim Tao in Haeridan strip became a big success, and the same owner opened two more branches in Incheon City and in Busan’s Seomyeon area.

The chef here is said to have Michelin stars.

Once you have a seat, you will spot a steamer trolley moving around tables. I highly recommend you try their Xiao-long-bao (Steamed Soup Dumplings).

The lines are always long, but they don’t take reservations.

4. Dim Tao, Seomyeon

If you are closer to Seomyeon area, I would recommend you check this place out. It’s located on the 6th floor of Samjeong Building in Seomyun area. Dim Tao, Seomyeon is more spacious with a similar vibe and menus.

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Ikebana One Day Class in Busan

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Hwarangchae Flower

Do you like flowers?

If you do, try this one-day class, and learn “Ikebana” during your stay in Busan!

What is Ikebana?

Ikebana is traditional Japanese flower arranging.

You may be wondering, what is the difference between Ikebana and western flower arranging?

Let me show you a picture of my work.

On the left is my Ikebana arrangement. Notice how the emptiness and balance play an important role in the design. Western floral arrangements (pictured right) are generally fuller.

I was told that there are hundreds of styles of Ikebana, but Ohara and Ikenobo are the most popular, so I made the Ohara design.

General Information

One Day Class Price: 100,000 won per person

Price Includes: Ikebana lesson/ seasonal flowers, branches, leaves, tools and one drink

Class Type: Private class

Class Location: In the View Raum Building, Centum City, Haeundae

Additional Information: The class is also open for kids and adults.

What to Expect

The class will take about an hour, and the first 15-20 minutes will be dedicated to learning the basics of Ikebana. After learning the basics, the teacher will ask the class to “imitate” her work, which I quickly learned was harder than I thought. After finishing, you will be able to take some pictures of your work. Then, you can take your flower home (minus the provided vase) so that you can practice later.

How to Get to the Class

The class is being held on the 32nd floor of the View Raum building in Centum. There are three elevators for the store complex and two for the officetels, so make sure to use the ones that are for the officetels (오피스텔).

If you want to use public transportation, I would recommend taking subway line #2 and getting off at Centum City Subway Station. It’s about a 5-minute walk from the exit 11.

How to Sign Up

Visit this website: Message them through Instagram: hwarangchae_flower.

Conclusion

In Busan, there are many great flower arrangement classes, but when it comes to Ikebana classes, the options are quite limited. So, I recommend taking this class if you are interested in learning Ikebana.

[This is NOT a sponsored post]