Busan Rising from The Shadows by Bobby McGill
Reprinted from the Korea Herald
1.06.2010 Busan's Diamond Bridge.
*This is reprinted from the Jan. 6th edition of The Korea Herald
BUSAN - While the long shadow of Seoul covers much of what goes on in the news, Busan manages to garner a bit of the printer's ink from time to time. (Not to mention much more sunshine and cleaner air.) As for news of the latter, it was announced that the 32nd annual International Panel on Climate Change will come to Busan's shores in 2010. Hosting any talk on clean air in Seoul rather than Busan would be like holding talks on sea piracy at Universal Studios rather than Somalia.
And while the famed pirate, Johnny Depp, didn't make it into town, the Pusan International Film Festival did manage to get Josh Hartnett for a few days of Korean BBQ and polite commentary on kimchi. Otherwise it was a slow news year down here - but done so with all the markings of an emerging presence. Now if Busan could just get some music industry giant to play a gig here we might give smog central (a.k.a. Seoul) a run for its money.
While on the subject of music lets jump right into our list:
1. Busan Live: Battle of the Bands a big success
This year saw the launch of Busan Live: Battle of the Bands. All the tickets were gone and for three straight weekends the city grooved out to a mix of Korean and expat music. Six songs, four required originals and the best band left standing.
2. English media in Busan thrives with new mag
This year witnessed the English media boom with the launching of Busan's first English radio station as well as Busan Haps, an independently published English magazine.
3. More people using public transportation, bicycles
In an effort to get people out of their cars, the city pushed several new transportation measures, including allowing people to bring their bikes on the subway. Public transportation use was up 28 percent on the year. I'll stop with the cleaner air cracks now.
4. Ex-President Roh commits suicide
Sadly, 2009 saw the passing of former President Roh Mu-hyun, who committed suicide while hiking in Busan. President Roh is from Gimhae, a Busan suburb, and was an inspiration to many for his Horatio Alger-like rise to the presidency.
5. Disaster flick "Haeundae" reaches 10 million mark
More than 10 million viewers watched the big-budget title-wave-disaster-film "Haeundae" in 2009; becoming only the fifth South Korean movie to reach the milestone. Busan also held its first ever surf competition, which turned into a rowing contest for a lack of any waves. Poetic.
6. Busan hosts a sailing comp, Ocean Forum
In a move to highlight its coastal resources (waves not withstanding), Busan hosted the International Women's Match Race sailing competition, as well as the 2009 World Ocean Forum.
7. Fire kills tourists in shooting range
On another down note, a fire killed 15 people at an indoor shooting range in Busan - including several Japanese. The central government has since beefed up safety protocols to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
8. The largest mall in Asia opens for business
Shinsege Department Store opened in March of 2009, billed as the largest mall in Asia. I have gotten lost in there twice, so I am not one to dispute the claim.
9. The great exodus from beautiful Busan
Busan's increasingly low birthrate was in the news, along with the worrisome statistic that over 200 people leave Busan everyday for Seoul. Most of those being 20-somethings. According to a recent report, Busan's population will shrink from the current 3.5 million to 3.3 million by 2015. It was 3.8 million when I first visited Korea in 2002. Rumor has it that of those that have left, 76.4 percent are now stuck in traffic - in Seoul.
10. Billions for Oncheon River, walking path
In a move to encourage outdoor recreation, the city poured billions of won into restoring the Oncheon River as well as creating a new walking path along the coast.
