Busan has been inherently linked to the ocean, fishing and maritime industries since time immemorial. The city is Korea's main port and most of Busan's economy revolves around the sea.
And so it's no surprise that it's in Busan that you'll come across Korea's largest maritime museum.
The museum was completely renovated and the new building opened to the public in 2012.
The museum's exhibitions
The museum is divided into 3 main floors.
The largest Permanent Exhibition Hall will catch your attention with a huge aquarium with turtles and colorful fish species. This is followed by a large section charting the history of the Korean maritime industry with a replica of an old sailing ship dating back to the Joseon Dynasty.
Another large floor is dedicated to the maritime industry of today with plenty of interactive displays.
The last and smallest floor is dedicated to children, who are introduced to the sea in a fun way.
A view of the harbour
Part of the construction of the new museum building included the redevelopment of the surrounding area, which once served as docks for ship repair.
Now, a beautiful, wide pedestrian promenade, about 0.5 km long, has been built close to the museum and overlooks the container port on the opposite side of the bay.
Entrance fees and opening hours
The museum remains closed on Mondays.
On other weekdays it is open from 9:00 to 18:00, on Saturdays and Sundays until 19:00. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing time.
Admission is free.
Official website: mmk.or.kr/eng
Transportation to the museum
The museum is located on Yeongdo Island and is only accessible by bus.
Bus lines 66 and 186 stop right outside the entrance to the museum and run to the Nampo station of the orange subway line. The boarding stop is towards the bridge, exit the metro at exit 6.
What to see around
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