HAEUNDAE-gu

Haeundae: A view framed with sea clouds

The name “Haeundae” (海雲臺) comes from Goun Choe Chiwon, a prominent late Silla period scholar, and his pen name “Haeun” (海雲).

Choe is said to have visited the area on his way to Gayasan Mountain, having abstained from his government post, and found himself captivated by the beautiful scenery of the area known today as Dalmaji. He stayed in the area for some time, and upon taking his leave, he carved the three characters of Haeundae onto the southern face of the rock cliff at Dongbaekseom Island.

Having been called Jangsan and Dongnae-gun during the Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla periods, Haeundae was part of Dongnae during the Goryeo and Joseon periods and belonged to the historic Dongha-myeon during the late Joseon period. In 1953, the district was founded as the Haeundae Branch Office of Dongnae-gu before being elevated to a city branch office in 1976 and a city district in 1980. Since its designation as a special tourist district on August 31, 1994, Haeundae-gu has established its reputation as an international city of tourism.

Haeundae is located in the eastern part of Busan at the southern tip of the Korean peninsula, with the 634 m–high Jangsan Mountain at its center. A 12 km–long coast from Suyeongman Bay to Songjeong Beach forms the southern end of the district. It borders Suyeong-gu to the west with Suyeonggang River as the border; Dongnae-gu, Geumjeong-gu, and Yeonje-gu to the northwest; and Gijang-gun to the northeast. The district itself sits on the junction between Namhae (south sea) and the East Sea.