Category: Things to do with Kids

The Special Photo Exhibition at the Bokcheon Museum

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I would like to tell you about the special photo exhibition taking place at the Bokcheon Museum. This photo exhibition titled, “Memory of Busan,” is now showcasing photos of Busan’s history over the past 100 years (100년전, 부산의 단편).

What is special about this photo exhibition is that you can check out a lot of photos taken by Japanese researchers from the colonial era. Back then, it was said that Japanese researchers tried to leave some records and documents of various parts of Korea as part of the “Joseon Historic Site Investigation Project.” These were important documents that they developed into photos on glass dry plates.

Surprisingly, some 38,000 of these photos were kept by the National Museum of Korea. Some were even carefully selected to be displayed at the Bokcheon Museum.

Fyi, the photo exhibition started this week and will last until June 18th.

Speaking of the Bokcheon Museum, I admit that it is not one of the most well-known museums in Busan. I am sure that a lot of citizens are not aware of this museum, either. However, it is well worth the visit.

For example, even though it is in the middle of Dongnae city, it stretches from the Chungyeol Temple all the way to the Dongnae Fortress (동래읍성). It is so beautiful that you might think to yourself, “am I in Busan?”

There is even a tomb which is believed to contain someone of great power back in the 6th century.

If you are interested, please visit museum.busan.go.kr/bokcheon. The museum is open from 9 am to 6 pm every day except for Mondays and admission is free.

Programs at Busan Safety & Experience Center

Posted in Festivals & Events, Things to do with Kids, TravelLeave a comment

April is almost coming to an end. Do you have any plans for the month of May?

There are a lot of special days in May, right? That includes Labor Day, Children’s Day, Parents’ Day, and Teacher’s Day. Since Children’s Day falls on Friday, I am pretty sure that a lot of people will go on a mini trip to make the most of their long weekend.

If you are planning on bringing your kids to Busan next month, you should consider taking them to “Busan Safety & Experience Center” (119 안전체험관).

It is so much fun! When I took my kids, they were able to learn important safety procedures, but it a fun way. They learned how to use a fire extinguisher and how to escape a burning building.

Programs like those are offered daily, but during the month of May, they will run special programs that involve your whole family. Some magic shows and recitals are also scheduled on May 5th and May 20th.

To participate in these programs, a reservation must be made online before April 30th. Visit 119.busan.go.kr. to reserve your spot.

Eight Things to Do in the Shinsegae Centum City Department Store

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The Shinsegae Centum City Department Store is not only a landmark in Busan but one of the largest department stores in the world!

If you are looking for some indoor activates to keep you out of the cold weather in Busan, you should consider checking out the Shinsegae Centum City Department Store. There is so much more to do than just shopping!

1. Spa Land

While Busan is known for its high-quality spas, Spa Land located in the Shinsegae Department Store may be the best!

They offer a variety of baths and saunas in their separated men and women facilitates. After enjoying the spa, you can head over to their entertainment zones. Children under six years old are not allowed to enter the facilities.

Spa Land is open for longer than the rest of the department store. They open at 8 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. Ticket cost 20,000 won for adults and 15,000 won for children.

(Pictured below is an image from their website.)

2. Movies

While the CGV movie theatre is located on the 6th floor, the special theater equipped with memory foam seats and pillows is located on the 5th floor, inside the Cine de Chef restaurant.

Complimentary drinks and adjustable seats can be yours for 40,000 won.

3. The Shinsegae Ice Rink

The Shinsegae Ice Rink located on the 4th floor of the Shinsegae Centum City Department Store offers a wide range of sessions for kids and adults.

The ice rink is open from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm on weekdays and from 10:30 am to 8:30 pm on weekends.

Admission: 13,000 won for those above middle school age/ 10,000 won for kids on weekdays,

14,000 won for those above middle school age/ 11,000 won for kids on weekends

The price for renting skates: 4,000 won

You must wear a pair of gloves to enter the ice rink. If you don’t have any, you must buy some at the shop near the entrance.

4. Kizania

Kizania located on the 4th floor of the Shinsegae Mall is a chain kids indoor theme park where they can experience nearly 100 different occupations, including a pilot, surgeon, dentist, firefighter, TV announcer… and many more! The kids look super cute wearing their different job uniforms!

The park is best suitable for kids ages 3 to 12. There are two available play sessions per day. The morning session lasts from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, while the afternoon session runs from 3:00 pm to 7:30 pm. The price for admission is 49,000 won for children and 20,000 won for adults.

5. Food

Korean, Chinese, Thai, and Italian cuisine are all available inside the department store. There are restaurants located on the 4th of the Shinsegae Mall and on the 9th floors of the Shinsegae Department Store. There is also a food court on level B1. So many choices!

There are many cafes, including a Starbucks on the 4th floor, a Café Kitsune on the 3rd floor, and a Layered on level B1.

6. Outdoor Park on the 9th Floor

This outdoor park is free for anyone who wishes to use it. The playground overlooks the city of Busan and can be enjoyable to both children and adults. It reminds me of the park at the Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay.

7. Lego Brick Live Kids Café

If you are a parent who needs a couple of hours to shop by yourself, I recommend dropping your kids off at the Lego Brick House on the 4th floor. There, trained employees will watch your kids while you shop, but keep in mind that they must be at least four years old. It costs 12,000 won for one hour, 20,000 won for two hours, 40,000 won for a whole day.

8. Shopping, Shopping, Shopping!

You can’t complete your visit to the Shinsegae Department Store without shopping, right?

This department store sells everything from international luxury brands to little souvenirs.

If you are a traveler, check out Duty Free located on the level B1.

[This is NOT a sponsored post]

Busan Private Yacht Tour

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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]

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.

[This is NOT a sponsored post]

Songdo Cable Car Review

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I have lived in Busan for a long time, but just recently, I visited Songdo Beach for the first time. Honestly, I didn’t have high expectations for the Songdo area. However, I ended up loving this place so much. It felt calmer than other popular beaches in Busan, it had a nearby suspension bridge, walking paths around the cliffs and lots of cafes and restaurants to try. The view of Busan and Songdo Beach from the cable car was wonderful, too. I recommend you check this place out!

Anyways, let me share a little but about what it was like on the Songdo cable car.

General Information

Hours 9 am–9 pm daily

Location Songdo Haebyun-ro 171, Seo-gu, Busan

How to Get There Songdo Beach is a lot closer than you might think. You can get there by crossing two bridges (Gwangan Bridge & Busan Port Bridge). If you use public transportation, take bus number 1011 at Bexco Station and get off at Songdo Entrance (송도입구). It is about an hour commute.

Parking Free one-hour parking is available during the week and free two-hour parking is available on the weekend.

In addition, there are two public parking lots nearby. One parking lot is called the “Namhang Parking Lot (남항주차장)” and the other is the “Songnim Parking Lot (송림 주차장).” The price for parking is 300 won for 10 minutes on weekdays and 500 won for 10 mins on the weekend.

Price As you can see, it costs 20,000 won to ride the “crystal.” I thought that was a reasonable price, but if a family of five rides it together, you could end up spending nearly 100 US dollars for a ten-minute ride. (Admission is free for babies under 36 months)

What to Expect

There are two different types of cable cars that can take you to the other side of Songdo Beach (which is Anmam Park).

The first car is called “air,” while the second one is called “crystal.” The difference between the two is the floor. The “air” car has a metal floor, and you can’t see the ocean under your feet. The “crystal” car has a glass bottom, which enables you to see the ocean below you.

I took the “crystal” car when I visited, and the ride lasted about 10 minutes. It was a short, but a nice ride with a wonderful view. Halfway through my ride, the car stopped right above the ocean due to a regular maintenance check. I was a bit surprised when it happened, but things quickly went back to normal.

When you get to the other side, you can walk around Anman Park before heading back. There is also a small dinosaur park nearby for kids to enjoy.

The cars can hold up to eight people at a time, but I was lucky enough to ride with just my friend. The attraction would have been too busy for us to have our own car on the weekend. I highly recommend visiting on a weekday.

[This is NOT a sponsored post]

Yeongdo Jonaegi Sweet Potato History Museum

Posted in Historical Locations, Interesting History, Local Topics, Things to do with Kids, TravelLeave a comment

It’s September already, and soon it will be starting to feel like autumn. There is a Korean expression that describes the season of autumn.

It is “Chun-go-ma-bi (천고마비)”. People say, “it is the time of Chun-go-ma-bi.” Have you heard this expression before, and can you guess its meaning?

Chun – Sky

Go – High

Ma – Horse

Bi – Fat

It literally translates to, “the sky is high while the horse gains weight.” Simply put, it means “autumn is a good season to go outside and eat!” Since autumn is the season of harvesting goods, there is a lot of good food to enjoy.

By the way, did you know that there is a sweet potato history museum in Busan? Well, there is! So let me tell you about the history of how sweet potatoes came to Busan.

Yeongdo Jonaegi Sweet Potato History Museum

It goes back to 1764 during the reign of King Yeongjo (영조) of the Korean Joseon Dynasty.

King Yeongjo

Joseon Tongsinsas were then diplomatic envoys sent to Japan at the request of Japanese officials.

This group was made up of diplomats, scholars, artists, and doctors. The group toured Japan – from Tsuhima Island all the way to Edo, which is today’s Tokyo. According to records, one group of Joseon Tongsinsa consisted of around 450 people, and they were all well-liked by their neighbors.

They were like the rock start we have today as they set international trends. Because of them, hundreds of horses, art pieces, stationery, books, and agriculture products were brought to Japan. In return, they we able to bring sweet potatoes from Japan.

Joseon Tongsinsa

During the 40th year of King Yeongjo’s rule, King Yeongjo sent a diplomatic mission to Japan. Jo Eum (조엄) was the chief envoy over the mission. According to reports, 477 people traveled with him. Jo eum soon found sweet potatoes in the northern parts of the Tsushima Island. He loved the taste of them and thought that if Joseon people could grow sweet potatoes in their backyard, they would not have to worry about having enough food to eat.

So, he had one of his officials named Lee Unghyuk (이응혁) carry a few sweet potato slips back with him. (Did you know that sweet potatoes do not have seeds like most other vegetables. Instead, they produce something called a slip, which can be planted like a seed!) However, Lee failed to keep the slips from rotting on his way back home.

Meanwhile, the Dongrae (동래) city official, Kang Pilly (강필리) found out that Jo had discovered

sweet potatoes in the northern parts of the Tsushima Island and that the sweet potato slips carried by Lee could not be replanted. He could not wait to grow and enjoy his own sweet potatoes. He had people go and retrieve more slips from Tsushima Island. This time the slips made it back to Busan without any issues.

The first sweet potatoes were planted in the Yeongdo-gu district of Busan in the spring of 1765 in the Naegi area. To remember Jo’s effort in bringing sweet potatoes to Korea, Kang decided to put his last name “Jo” before “Naegi.” That is how the sweet potatoes were named “Jonaegi sweet potatoes.” People believed that sweet potatoes grown in that area tasted the best. That’s why Jonaegi sweet potatoes are still the most popular sweet potatoes in supermarkets in Korea.

Meanwhile, the Dongrae city official named Kang spent a lot of time researching sweet potatoes.

He even published his research in a book. The title of the book was “Gamjeobo (감저보).” Sweet potatoes are now called Goguma (고구마), but back then, they used to be called Gamjeo (감저). Interestingly, potatoes are called Gamja in Korean. So, when sweet potatoes were first brought to Korea, people probably named the sweet potatoes Gamjeo by changing one vowel in the word Gamja.

Anyways, thanks to Kang’s book, people from different regions have started to grow sweet potatoes.

So check out the Jonaegi Sweet Potato History Museum located in Yeongdo to find more information. There is also a café that serves sweet potato inspired drinks and baked goods. My favorite is the homemade soy milk served in a kettle! Twice a month, a cooking class is held for kids to join.

Address: Cherry Blossom Road 75, Yeongdo-gu, Busan

Hours: 10 am to 6 pm (Closed on Mondays and national holidays)

Admission: Free

How to get there: Take bus 101 at Busan Train Station. Get off at Yeongdo Bridge. Transfer to village bus number 7 at 청학 [Cheonghak] gas station and then get off at 동조 Dongjo Regency. (You will climb one of the steepest hills on your way to the museum! )

Fun Things to Do with the Kids in Busan This Summer

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  • Water House at Anati Hilton Busan (아난티 힐튼 부산 워터 하우스)

Summer is not complete without swimming, right?

I don’t know about you, but I prefer swimming in a swimming pool rather than swimming in the ocean. With the kids, that feeling intensifies.

So, if you feel the same way I do, the Anati Hilton Busan is the place for you.

The swimming pool at the 5-star Anati Hilton Busan is located on the outskirts of Busan along the coast and it claims to have one of the best pools in the city. Let me explain why.

First, facility, facility, facility. There are indoor swimming pools as well as outdoor pools. Their indoor swimming pools are decorated with LED screens and a variety of plants, while the outdoor swimming pools feature an infinity view of the ocean! The water temperature is perfect and allows for the kids to spend hours playing. Also, it has everything you would need such as available shampoo, hair conditioner, body wash, life jackets, a cafeteria and so much more.

The only thing that you need to bring with you is your bathing suit and a swim cap or hat.

Second, the swimming pool is also open to the public. At this time of year, it is very difficult to book a hotel room and the rooms are often unreasonably priced. This is why Anati Hilton’s Water House attracts many people that are not guests.

Lastly, you can enjoy the Ananti Town after you finish swimming. It has a multipurpose recreational complex filled with shops, a bookstore, cafes & restaurants. If that is not something you are interested in, you could enjoy a nice stroll along the coast.

Entrance fee: 79,000 won for adults, 40,000 won for kids for four hours.

If it is your first time visiting, you can get a 30% discount after you download the app and join their membership program.

  • Seokcheon Gallery at F1963 (F1963 석천홀)

F1963 is an urban cultural complex that was once a wire factory.

It always has something going on! At this time at the Seokcheon Gallery, an exhibition is taking place with the theme of “We also Need a Vacation.”

This is showcasing how kids from different generations spend their summer vacation.

I could definitely see the difference between how I used to spend my summer breaks and how my kids are spending their summer vacation.

There was also a booth where kids could write a ‘그림일기’, (drawing diary, in my rough translation). That used to be homework practice given to kids back in the day.

The exhibition is open from July 30 to September 4, and it is FREE to visitors.

  • Busan Museum (부산 박물관)

You can learn a lot about Korean history by visiting Busan Museum. Plus, you can experience wearing a Korean Hanbok. In order to participate in the program, you need to make a reservation through their website.

There are two different programs offered, one is wearing a regular Hanbok and the other is wearing a royal Hanbok. Wearing a regular Hanbok is through a program open to kids and adults, while wearing a royal Hanbok is only open to adults. Both programs are free.

Making a reservation can be a little bit tricky if you are not fluent in Korean.

My advice is: If you are a non-Korean and have difficulty, seek help from the Busan Global Center.

Just so you know, the Busan Global Center offers a free interpretation service.

All you need to do is download “Life in Busan Application” onto your smart phone.

You can call them any time between 9 am and 9 pm.

Interpreters who speak English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Russian, Uzbek, Mongolian, Burmese, Cambodian, Thai and Tagalog will be available to help you.