Weeks 76–77 & 90–91 · Busan, South Korea · June & October 2015
Busan —
South Korea’s second city and its most popular beach: a wrong-turn temple hike with a mountain view of the city, Haeundae before the million-person summer season hits, a local derby at the 2002 World Cup stadium, and a return in October for BIFF, the coastal temple, and a surfing cove we decided against.
Still working Saturdays which is more annoying with great weather in Seoul — but we still decided to take a quick train ride to the far southeastern coast to the second largest city in South Korea — Busan on a Saturday afternoon. Much different than Seoul, more like Hong Kong as it is surrounded by mountains and ocean. It is also the most popular beach in Korea. We were not there during official season from 1 July to 30 August, so it was not that crowded. And to rent a jet ski a licence is required that includes an 8-hour safety course — so we did not get to ride jet skis.
Haeundae Beach in Busan is consistently ranked as one of the most visited beaches in the world during the summer season. During the official bathing season of July and August, it can attract over 1.5 million visitors on a single peak summer weekend — a density that requires the beach to be divided into colour-coded zones managed by lifeguards and police. The beach is 1.5km long and 30–50 metres wide. Busan itself is South Korea’s second largest city with a population of approximately 3.4 million and serves as the country’s largest port, handling around a third of all Korean container traffic.
Came across a serious translation issue — the Korean meaning of “decision” is the same as “recommendation.” So when you are told to make a decision, the decision is what the recommendation is, not actually deciding then action occurring. So westerners have been making decisions then wondering why action did not occur or someone else decided differently later. Think about that in your daily activities.
I also started a new exercise program — get home from work and out on my bike by 7pm — ride an hour on the river then find a neighbourhood I haven’t been to and find a cheap place to eat. Then ride home using a headlight — very safe and still many people out riding. Been really good so far in exploring the city and getting some decent exercise in and avoiding a new vice — blue soju.
The translation issue described here reflects a genuine cultural and linguistic gap that causes real friction in Korean-Western business settings. The Korean concept most relevant here is “nunchi” — the subtle art of gauging the mood and unspoken expectations of a room. In Korean professional culture, a “decision” in a meeting is often understood as a provisional recommendation subject to further alignment rather than a directive for immediate action. Westerners accustomed to decisions triggering action repeatedly found that Korean colleagues were still consulting and aligning after what felt like a concluded discussion. This particular dynamic was a recurring theme across two years in Seoul.
Another trip to Busan — last time it was raining, this time perfect weather. Really a great beach city and gave us an opportunity to exercise. We were there for BIFF 2015. I was expecting preppy guys but it was the film festival.
BIFF — the Busan International Film Festival — is Asia’s largest and most prestigious film festival, founded in 1996. It takes place each October in Busan’s Haeundae and Centum City districts and regularly attracts over 200,000 attendees. The festival is credited with helping revitalise Korean cinema and was instrumental in bringing international attention to directors like Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho before their global breakthroughs. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, visited on the coastal hike, was built approximately 800 years ago and is one of the few Korean Buddhist temples situated directly on the ocean. It was destroyed during Japanese invasions in the 1590s and rebuilt in the 20th century.
“Really a great beach city. Last time it was raining, this time perfect weather.”