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Pūsan is also a Vedic Hindu god.
Busan Metropolitan City, also commonly referred to as Pusan, is a harbor city and designated Metropolitan City in the southeast of South Korea. With a population of approximately 3.7 million, Busan is the second largest city in South Korea, after Seoul. The densely populated city is situated in the narrow Nakdong River valley, with mountains acting as a check on expansion to either the east or west. Busan was the host city of 2002 Asian Games. Kumjung Mountain to the west is a popular weekend hiking spot for Pusan residents. Tourist hotels and a carnival boardwalk line the Haeundae Beach district. To the north, the neighborhoods around Pusan National University sport student cafes, bars, and open air noodle restaurants. Chalgalchi Market (near the very active port) is an area of narrow street stalls and is well known for its fish market. Busan has a relatively large Russian population, one area known as the "Foreigners' Shopping Street" has many Russian businesses, and business is conducted primarily in Korean and Russian. The area was originally known as the Foreigners' Street because so many businesses were set up there during the 1940s and 50s to cater to American soldiers in the area. The Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority, one of two such administrations (the other in the harbor of Incheon), was created to continue the tradition of Busan's status as an international trading center. It is now attracting ships from all over the globe is aspiring to become a major Asian financial center and trading hub on par with Hong Kong and Singapore. In addition, Busan is internationally ranked as the third largest seaport in terms of cargo volume and efficiency by the AAPA. Busan was one of the few areas in Korea that remained under the control of South Korea throughout the Korean War. UN troops established a defensive perimeter around the city known as the Busan perimiter in the summer and autumn of 1950. The city is also home to K-League soccer side Busan I'cons. Since 1982, the city has been home to the Lotte Giants, who play in the Korean baseball league. Busan is also famous for the Pusan International Film Festival, or PIFF, which is one of the largest international film festivals in Asia. Busan is served by Gimhae International Airport, in the nearby city of Gimhae. 
Administrative divisionsBusan is divided into 15 wards ("Gu") and 1 county ("Gun").
HistoryFrom the beginning of the 15th century onwards, the Korean government designated Pusan as a trading port with Japanese and their settlement. Other Japanese settlements in Ulsan and Jinhae diminished later, but the Pusan settlement, called Waegwan, continued until Japan invaded into Korea in 1592. After the war, diplomatic relations with the new shogunate in Japan was established in 1607, and Pusan Waegwan was permitted to be reconstructed. The Japanese settlement, though relocated into Choryang later, continued to exist until Korea was exposed to modern diplomacy in 1876. In the colonial days Pusan developed as a hub trading port with Japan. During the colonial days, the city was the only city to adopt the steam tramway before the electrification was introduced in 1924. TransportationFerries connect Pusan with Shimonoseki, Kokura, and other ports in Western Japan today.
See alsoExternal links
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