Departing from Busan, explore six cities in southern Korea
Last updated 2026-09-27 — Shopping, skiing, and chasing celebrities — girls go to Seoul for their "Oppa," boys head there for Girls' Generation. But this time, we’re skipping Seoul. Starting in Busan, we’ll casually tour six cities in southern Korea, savoring fresh...
By TRAVELER Luxe Traveler Kei Wen
Shopping, skiing, and chasing celebrities — girls go to Seoul for their "Oppa," boys head there for Girls' Generation. But this time, we’re skipping Seoul. Starting in Busan, we’ll casually tour six cities in southern Korea, sampling fresh seafood, gazing at mountain and sea views, and chatting in the charming Gyeongsang dialect: "Oppa-ya." Turns out, traveling in Korea can be this “slow.”
The sandwich shop of Han Ji-min from the Korean drama “A Gentleman’s Dignity” is now run as a café, with autographs and photos both inside and outside that attract fans on pilgrimage. (Photo by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler Kei Wen)
Busan’s gateway — located at Gimhae International Airport, “Gimhae” was once the ancient capital of the Gaya Confederacy, which thrived for over 600 years. To restore and revive its heritage, seven hanok (traditional Korean houses) buildings comprising 88 rooms, representing the yangban (noble class) of the Joseon Dynasty, have been converted from old aristocratic residences. Here, you can enjoy traditional Korean meals, stay overnight, experience Korean crafts, and even try on hanbok for free.
For those wanting to dive deeper into Korean culture, visit the Gimhae Buncheong Ceramics Museum. Gimhae is Korea’s largest producer of buncheong ware. Different from the refined white porcelain of Gyeonggi-do’s Ichon or the ceramics of South Jeolla’s Gangjin, buncheong is coarser and more rustic, yet its designs and patterns are freer, bolder, and more realistic. It’s hailed as the most representative of Korea’s original aesthetic beauty in ceramic history. In the museum, you can admire numerous unique buncheong pieces and even try your hand at painting ceramics or hand-pulling clay — a truly fun experience.
The Gwangan Bridge, connecting Busan’s Suyeong District and Haeundae, is one of the city’s iconic landmarks. (Photo by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler Kei Wen)
Exploring the “A Gentleman’s Dignity” mural village and retracing the route of “Huh Joon”
In the final episode of the Korean drama “A Gentleman’s Dignity,” Song Joong-ki and Han Ji-min, after seven long years, finally give viewers a happy ending that’s well worth the wait. Where is the beautiful, colorful, and quaint village where they lived? It’s the Dongpirang Mural Village in Tongyeong.
This place, once facing demolition, was preserved thanks to the efforts of local youth and rose to fame as a tourist spot because of the drama. Walk up the slope from the alleys near the Central Market, and you’ll be greeted by Angry Birds, Alice in Wonderland, angel wings, giraffes, Sailor Moon, and cartoon characters Tom and Jerry. Watch out for the turtle ships charging off the walls, ready for battle. Further along the trail, following the signs, you’ll find the clinic of Song Joong-ki and the sandwich shop of Han Ji-min from “A Gentleman’s Dignity,” now operating as cafés. Both have autographs and photos inside and out, and you might even bump into the famous children’s book character, The Little Prince, around the corner.
The Korean herbal meal set at Gimhae Hanok Experience Hall features over 100 ingredients prepared into more than 15 dishes. (Photo by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler Kei Wen)
After exploring the mural village, head back to the Central Market for a seafood adventure. As a coastal city, Tongyeong is abundant in fresh seafood. Here, you’ll find a variety of delicious sea creatures, including not just common fish and shellfish but also the sea squirt, which looks like a large earthworm, and the sea urchin-like sea pineapple. Though their appearances may be off-putting, they’re considered delicacies highly recommended by locals and are said to be perfect with rice.
On the exterior wall of Han Ji-min’s sandwich shop is a full-wall illustration of The Little Prince. (Photo by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler Kei Wen)
If you’ve watched the Korean drama “Huh Joon,” you’ll recognize this legendary Korean physician who authored the esteemed “Dongui Bogam.” To commemorate the 400th anniversary of its publication and its inclusion in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, the “2013 World Traditional Medicine Expo” was held in Sancheong-gun, South Gyeongsang Province — where Huh Joon once practiced medicine.
The expo site is known as Dongui Bogam Village, surrounded by Jirisan Mountain and believed to be the endpoint of the Baekdu Mountain Range, thus gathering vital energy. It’s said to be the geomantically luckiest spot in Korea, where medicinal herbs thrive abundantly. Renowned for its Korean herbal medicine and traditional remedies, it’s considered the homeland of traditional Korean medicine.
The sea pineapple, which resembles a hedgehog, is delicious even when eaten raw. (Photo by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler Kei Wen)
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