Busan

Busan exists because the Korean peninsula needed a gateway to Japan—and Busan's natural harbor, protected by mountains and facing the Tsushima Strait, has served as that gateway for two millennia. What could have remained a fishing port became Korea's second city through its role as the endpoint of Japanese trade, influence, and industrial planning.

Busan functioned as a trading post with Japan from antiquity. When Japan forced open Korean ports in 1876 (the Treaty of Ganghwa), Busan opened first—becoming Japan's primary entry point for goods and migration. Japanese colonial planners (1910-1945) built Busan's modern port, railways connecting to Seoul, and manufacturing base. During the Korean War, Busan served as the temporary capital when Seoul fell; the Pusan Perimeter held against North Korean forces in 1950. The city never forgot being the last refuge.

Modern Busan houses 3.4 million residents in the city proper (4.4 million metro)—Korea's second largest. The Port of Busan handles 22 million containers annually, ranking fifth globally. Shipbuilding dominated for decades: Hanjin Shipping (now bankrupt) and container terminals defined the economy. The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) emerged as Asia's premiere event. Yet Busan increasingly defines itself against Seoul's dominance—repeatedly losing bids to relocate government agencies, watching young talent migrate north.

The 2026 trajectory reveals Busan's identity crisis. The city won hosting rights for the 2030 World Expo only to see it awarded to Riyadh; the failed bid cost $100 million. Shipbuilding shed 40,000 jobs since 2016 as Chinese competitors undercut pricing. Tourism (cruise ships, beaches, Haeundae district) offers partial replacement. Busan bets on smart logistics, film industry expansion, and that same Japan-facing geography—as Korean-Japanese relations thaw, Busan's historic gateway role may revive. The second city struggles to matter in a country where Seoul absorbs everything.