Huinnyeoul Culture Village, much like Gamcheon Culture Village, used to be a poor area that was revived in recent years by street artists. Since then, Huinnyeoul has gained huge popularity, especially when it became the filming location for the 2013 hit K Drama, The Attorney. Today, Huinnyeoul Culture Village is on every Busan Top 10s and Must-Visits.
First Impressions
I would describe this neighbourhood as simple, quiet and picturesque. Every house and building is unique, and together, they seem to blend in blissful harmony. The architecture is not ostentatious in its design, but charming and quaint.
At one end of the village, there is a Film Archive Centre, providing information about all the films and TV that have featured Huinnyeoul Village as their scenery. I was quite surprised to see that so many movies had been filmed in this picturesque village. The exhibition hall is small, with a screen projecting scenes from some of the movies. Additionally, you can try on Korean old school-style uniforms here for free! Donโt forget to snap the perfect Instagram photo.
Food and Drink
As the village is right on the seafront, there are plenty of restaurants and cafes with a stunning sea view on offer. Youโll find restaurants serving all of Busanโs seafood specialties, amongst others.
Huinnyeoul Jumbbang
Huinnyeoul Jumbbang is a popular brunch restaurant serving ramyeon and toast as its main dishes. This place is representative of the relaxing and chilled-out vibe of Huinnyeoul Culture Village. Koreans enjoy the feeling of eating a simple โ yet delicious โ meal like noodles, with the fresh sea air and gorgeous views. In fact, this restaurant is so popular it is listed on the official tourism map of Huinnyeoul Culture Village!
Huinnyeoul Beach
We also visited Huinnyeoul Beach, a pink and tropical-themed cafe with the perfect beach view. This cafe is not right on the coast line, but rather close to the main road instead. However, being further from the seafront works to its advantage with open air rooftop seating. Above sea level, you get incredible panoramic views, and it certainly feels secluded on the rooftop. Whatโs more, the sunshades that resemble a real beach scene are even more popular with Instagrammers than the real beach! It is definitely a great place to relax with coffee and cake. The menu items are mostly around 6000 won, which is the average price for tourist hotspot cafes.
Gift Shops
Close by to the restaurants and cafes are many accessory and gift shops. These are great places to buy cute souvenirs and handicrafts or simply to have a browse.
One store that caught my eye was a handmade art/gift shop with a cat and alpaca theme. The store was painted bright yellow and featured postcards, photos, tote bags, key chains and pottery dedicated to cats. Indeed, this is heaven for cat lovers!
Joryeong Coastal Walk
The coastal walkway is easy to access via stairs across the village. It is the perfect leisurely walk for enjoying the scenery and the sound of the sea. The walkway is also painted a beautiful ocean blue โ it will feel as though you are walking across the sea or sky.
Huinnyeoul Tunnel
At one end of the coastal walk is the Huinnyeoul Tunnel. The tunnel looks like a mysterious cave in photos, and people were lining up just to take a photo in front of the entrance!
Please note: Huinnyeoul Culture Village is a residential area. Visitors should not make unnecessary noise and be mindful of residentsโ privacy.
Location & Getting There
Address: 605-3 Yeongseon-dong 4-ga, Yeongdo-gu, Busan Via subway: Line 1 to Nambo Station --> Exit 6 --> Take bus no. 6, 9, 82, 85, 7, 71 or 508 to Huinnyeoul Culture Village stop Via bus: Any of the buses listed above ^ can be taken from the Yeongdo Bridge stop in central Busan
Final Thoughts
Huinnyeoul Culture Village is now one of my favourite places in Korea. I just adored the naturally calm and warm atmosphere. For me, it was like the Santorini of Korea! It is an underrated destination, especially in comparison with the far more popular Gamcheon Culture Village. I definitely recommend that anyone travelling in Busan should visit here!
