Busan – My First Taste of South Korea, Busan, South Korea

During my entire Northeast Asia trip, the one country I was most excited about was South Korea. With K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean culture taking the world by storm, I was genuinely intrigued to discover what this dynamic country had in store for me. But did it live up to all the hype? Did I experience the best of what I was eagerly waiting for? Read on to find out.

I arrived in South Korea from Taipei, landing in the vibrant coastal city of Busan — my first port of entry. Until I arrived, the only thing I really associated with the city was the movie Train to Busan. So naturally, there was a bit of a stereotype already painted in my head — something intense, gritty, and maybe even a little eerie.

It was raining when I arrived, and after navigating my way through immigration, I caught the airport bus to head downtown. By the time I reached the city center, it was pouring heavily. Welcome to Korea, I thought — soaked, tired, but quietly thrilled to be here.

As a solo traveler, I’ve learned to rely on instinct and momentum. Busan, spread wide across the southern coast, instantly felt like a city built for wandering — touristy but not in an overbearing way, with something interesting waiting around every corner. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).