These high-speed trains go faster than 190 miles (305 kilometers) per hour! I made it from Seoul to Busan in just two and a half hours. The train was clean and comfortable, and the seats even had built-in phone chargers. South Korea's high-speed rail system is incredible, making travelling very convenient. My one-way ticket to Busan cost $41.79, around ₩58,000
After settling in and dropping my luggage off at my hotel, my Busan adventures officially began!
Busan X the Sky
My first stop was Busan X the Sky, a huge observation deck on the 100th floor of the second-tallest building in South Korea. It is over 1,350 feet (411.6 meters) tall! I could see the entire city and the beach below—it was like looking at the world from the clouds. The observatory was very modern and well-organized, with dynamic visual displays, restaurants, cafés, photo zones, and souvenir shops. There were even glass floors (scary but fun!) and the world's highest Starbucks on the 99th floor. As I drank my sea salt caramel cold brew and ate my slice of seven-layer ganache cake, I enjoyed the dazzling view of the city I would spend the next few days exploring.
Gamcheon Culture Village
Next, I went to Gamcheon Culture Village. It's like a rainbow town built on a hill! All the houses are painted in bright colors, and the walls are covered in murals and art. Did you know this village has a painful history? It was built by people who lost their homes during the Korean War (1950-1953) and resettled in Gamcheon Village. They built their houses staircase-style on the steep hill of a coastal mountain.
