I’ve been to South Korea with my family twice, but we’ve only been to Seoul and as far as Nami Island. Since I had almost a week to my trip, I decided to visit South Korea’s second-largest city.
I had very little expectations to start with, but I ended up having a very good time. Coming back to this coastal city is on my future travel list.
What I knew of Busan came from BTS’ Ma City (and in fact, a lot of this post was just plainly inspired by Park Jimin, my bias in the group who happens to be from Busan)…. Though technically, even the entire art segment of this trip was influenced by RM of BTS.
In this Busan and BTS-heavy blog post: train travel, coffee and BTS, Gamcheon Culture Village, and Seoul Forest Park.
⬅ NAVIGATE SEOUL SEARCHING SERIES (FT. BUSAN) ➡
Part I: Reflections and tips for solo travel
Part II: Four museums and two exhibits in Seoul
Part III: First time in Busan? And BTS-related side quests
From the T-Money Card to the KTX
Nothing beats the train when it comes to public transportation (in my humble and also oft-repeated opinion). What’s even better is having a limited edition BTS Proof-era T-Money card —thank you again, Ate Gianna!
I went almost completely cashless for this trip (which is actually a little unsafe for a solo traveler if you think about it). Luckily, Seoul subway ticket kiosks readily accept contactless Visa and Mastercard as forms of payment.
For the second part of my trip, I booked a flexible two-way Korail Pass via Klook. Korail Pass, or Korea Rail Pass, is a discounted travel pass for international visitors which includes high-speed trains like the KTX, which I took going to Busan.
It was a very comfortable ride going from the northwest to the southeast of South Korea, lasting about 2 hours and 30 minutes. For the scenery, the comfort, and the convenience, I highly recommend!
Don’t have a Klook account? Sign up now using my referral code 5KSPJ and enjoy a ₱250 discount!
Coffeeshops (and BTS)
I need my daily caffeine fix or I’ll suffer a genuine headache. It was serendipity that there was a branch of Compose Coffee right in front of my hotel in Seoul. Sipping a warm cup of latte is just the right way to start a chilly autumn day.
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I was surprised to discover that November 8 is apparently a pretty important date for fans of Jimin and Jungkook of BTS. I couldn’t even remember why at that time; all I could recall was seeing an invitation post on Twitter, and having the happy realization that it was somewhat in between two of my museum stops.
Cafe Sia Atelier (@cafe_sia_atelier) frequently hosts fan cafe events such as these. It’s located in a fairly quiet neighborhood with a nearby park that’s just lovely to walk in.
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I couldn’t leave Busan without visiting ZM-ILLENNIAL (@zm_illennialcafe_) (formerly known as Magnate), a popular cafe owned by the father of Jimin of BTS. Aside from the standard SK cafe fare, like coffee, pastries, and I think maybe some pasta, they also sell exclusive cafe merch such as tumblers, postcards and hand creams. I remember buying a couple of the hand creams as Christmas gifts, and the postcards for myself (the design was a tree drawing by Jimin…)
The exterior of the cafe also looks unassuming and boring, but it has a really chic industrial vibe inside.
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Unfortunately, ZM-ILLENNIAL announced that they’ll be closing by November 2027. I hope everyone interested in the experience can still get the opportunity to visit!
Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan
There’s always something a little romantic about hillside neighborhoods. They seem to touch the sky. Gamcheon Culture Village adds to that charm, with blue-toned colorful roofs and a variety of art and mural pieces lining the streets.
I was only able to make short visit, walking up and down the main streets for a few times. But apparently, this village has strong historical roots. Refugees settled in the village during the Korean War, and transformed it into a place for students, artists, and residents. Maybe that’s why a lot of the paintings and art works carry messages of hope, and even the image of The Little Prince. (The lines for the iconic The Little Prince photo spots were soooo long that I didn’t bother.)
Of course, I couldn’t miss out on two BTS-themed attractions in the village. The first is the Hello, Gamcheon! OT7 BTS mural. It can be found directly across the older Jimin and Jungkook mural, which was commissioned by a fanbase account and made by local artists. It has permits to be in this cultural village and everything.
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In the late afternoon, I again made the impulsive decision to go to another culture village. Huinnyeoul Culture Village is another picturesque neighborhood in Busan, with the added charm of facing the sea atop coastal cliffs. A little like Santorini, there were a lot of white-pained houses and blue-toned roofs.
The neighborhood and stores were fairly quiet when I arrived, maybe because of the season or the hour. I spent some minutes enjoying the sunset a a cafe near main street.
Seoul Forest Park
Before I boarded the four hour flight back to Manila inside a glorified tin can (and marvel of engineering that is the airplane), I spent an hour in Seoul Forest Park, the third largest park in Seoul.
Aside from being a beautiful place with tall trees and interesting art installations, it is also home to several BTS-related stops. Somehow. ARMY is really everywhere.
The flowers were still blooming. I really love it when love of the art inspires more nature and more art.
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Forever, we are young. A reminder that even as time passes, even as we age –those beautiful memories of youth will remain. The spirit that drove us in youth can continue to carry us forward.
There was both fear and beauty in growing up. It will be the same now, in growing older.
Until next time! ♥
⬅ NAVIGATE SEOUL SEARCHING SERIES (FT. BUSAN) ➡
Part I: Reflections and tips for solo travel
Part II: Four museums and two exhibits in Seoul
Part III: First time in Busan? And BTS-related side quests
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