Over the years I’ve been told that Anchang Village (안창마을) was a hidden hillside neighborhood with colorful houses and art on the streets, very similar to -but smaller than- Gamcheon Culture Village (감천문화마을). I think its artful days are mostly over as most of the houses are painted completely in pastel. 

When I got off the bus, I walked all the way up the hill to the base of (what I think is) Sujong Mountain (수종산). Along the way, a little girl ran out of her house and shouted after me, in Korean, “Where are you going?” She even held my hand and walked with me up the hill as I told her I was looking for graffiti art. She said there wasn’t much and quickly ran off as fast as she appeared.

I really enjoyed the view of Busan from the base of the mountain. After a few moments of rest, I walked back down the hill about half a kilometer, taking pictures of the few pieces of street art I saw. I enjoyed the peaceful streets which are a stark contrast from the urban Busan I know. There aren’t any chain restaurants or even any coffee shops on that hill. The Koreans I saw were beautiful, but dressed simply and not representative of the makeup and plastic surgery trends I often see in my neighborhood.

Then, when I was tired of walking in the sun, I rode minibus 1-1 back down to the hill to drop me off at the closest subway station, Beomnaegol (범내골역 [line 1]). 

Address: Beomil 4(sa)-dong, Busan

Directions: From Beomil Subway Station (line 1), take minibus 1-1 near exit 5. Get off at the last stop and immediately transfer to mini-bus 1 (or walk up the hill after mini-bus 1-1).

Over the years I’ve been told that Anchang Village (안창마을) was a hidden hillside neighborhood with colorful houses and art on the streets, very similar to -but smaller than- Gamcheon Culture Village (감천문화마을). I think its artful days are mostly over as most of the houses are painted completely in pastel. 

When I got off the bus, I walked all the way up the hill to the base of (what I think is) Sujong Mountain (수종산). Along the way, a little girl ran out of her house and shouted after me, in Korean, “Where are you going?” She even held my hand and walked with me up the hill as I told her I was looking for graffiti art. She said there wasn’t much and quickly ran off as fast as she appeared.

I really enjoyed the view of Busan from the base of the mountain. After a few moments of rest, I walked back down the hill about half a kilometer, taking pictures of the few pieces of street art I saw. I enjoyed the peaceful streets which are a stark contrast from the urban Busan I know. There aren’t any chain restaurants or even any coffee shops on that hill. The Koreans I saw were beautiful, but dressed simply and not representative of the makeup and plastic surgery trends I often see in my neighborhood.

Then, when I was tired of walking in the sun, I rode minibus 1-1 back down to the hill to drop me off at the closest subway station, Beomnaegol (범내골역 [line 1]). 

Address: Beomil 4(sa)-dong, Busan

Directions: From Beomil Subway Station (line 1), take minibus 1-1 near exit 5. Get off at the last stop and immediately transfer to mini-bus 1 (or walk up the hill after mini-bus 1-1).