Quick answerBusan is a city in South Korea, with 3,285,147 people inside the city limits in 2026. The wider metropolitan area had about 4.0 million people in 2026. It is best known for the Haeundae Beach and the Jagalchi Fish Market. Its official languages are Korean and Korean Sign Language, and its currency is the South Korean won.
Busan is the second-largest city in South Korea, with 3,285,147 people (January 2026). It is the country's largest port, on the south-eastern coast, known for Haeundae Beach, the Jagalchi Fish Market and the Gamcheon Culture Village.
Key facts
| Country | South Korea |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 3,285,147 (2026) |
| Population (metro) | 4,000,000 (2026) · Busan agglomeration (citypopulation.de, 2023) |
| Time zone | Asia/Seoul |
| Language | Korean, Korean Sign Language |
| Currency | South Korean won (KRW, ₩) |
| Coordinates | 35.18° N, 129.075° E |
Overview
Busan is the second-largest city in South Korea, with 3,285,147 people in January 2026 and about 4.0 million in the wider agglomeration. It stands on the south-eastern coast, on the Korea Strait, and is the country's largest port. Busan is the capital of its own metropolitan city and the main gateway to the sea for South Korea's trade.
Busan is known for Haeundae Beach, the Jagalchi Fish Market, the colourful hillside houses of the Gamcheon Culture Village and the seaside Haedong Yonggungsa Temple. The city hosts the Busan International Film Festival, one of Asia's biggest film festivals, and its port and beaches draw visitors from across Korea and Japan. The city grew around its port and shipyards, and the south-eastern coast around it is South Korea's industrial heartland. The city is also a major naval base.
What Busan is known for
- Haeundae Beach
- Jagalchi Fish Market
- Gamcheon Culture Village
- Largest port
- Busan International Film Festival
- Beomeosa Temple
Landmarks
- Haeundae Beach
- Gamcheon Culture Village
- Jagalchi Market
- Beomeosa Temple
- Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
- Busan Tower
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Busan?
Busan had 3,285,147 people in January 2026, making it South Korea's second-largest city, after Seoul. The wider agglomeration had about 4.0 million people, according to citypopulation.de. Busan is the largest city on the country's south-eastern coast. The city covers 770 square kilometres.
Where is Busan and what is it known for?
Busan is on the south-eastern coast of South Korea, on the Korea Strait, facing Japan. It is famous for Haeundae Beach, the Jagalchi Fish Market, the Gamcheon Culture Village, the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple and the Busan International Film Festival. The city faces the island of Tsushima, Japan, across the strait.
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Keep exploring
- South Korea — the country Busan is in
- Seoul — another city in South Korea
- Incheon — another city in South Korea
- Daegu — another city in South Korea
- All cities in South Korea
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.