Busan Modern History Museum

The Busan Museum of Modern History records the city's major events starting in 1876 when the international port opened. The museum explains in great detail the effects of the Japanese, Korean and American Wars on the city. The museum building itself is also an important part of Busan's local history. After the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1905, when Korea lost its sovereignty, the building was first used by the Japanese as the Busan branch of Dongyang-Cheocksik Co., establishing the Oriental Development Company to exploit the colony. and domination of Korea. After World War II, the building became the Busan Cultural Center of Overseas Americans. The U.S. Bureau of Public Information used the building for 50 years to house their Information Service (USIS). However, thanks to the persistence of the people of Busan to reclaim the building, the American Cultural Center withdrew and the building was returned to the Korean government. Considered a symbol of the invasion, the Busan government built it into the Busan Museum of Modern History, with the aim of educating and reminding people of the city's tragic history.

The building was built of reinforced concrete and steel in the 1920s, showing the architectural trends of the days when Western style was introduced to Korea. Today, very few buildings of this style remain around the country. Busan Modern History Museum - recognized for its historical value and architectural form - has been designated as Busan Monument No. 49 in 2001. Since opening on July 3, 2003, Busan Museum of Modern History has become a space to understand and remember Busan's modern and contemporary history through monuments and artifacts related to Busan. It also offers special exhibitions and educational programs on various topics for residents to experience their history more effectively.

The museum mainly consists of Gallery 1 & 2, and Modern Street in Busan, with occasional special exhibitions being held.

- Gallery 1: designed to show the historical timeline of Busan, from the opening of the port to its modernization after the Japanese occupation.

- The second exhibition hall: describes the Oriental Development Company and the history of the Korean-American relationship. Oriental Development Company robbed land and collected rent in kind - usually rice - from tenant farmers in an attempt to make up for the loss of Japanese farmers. Before liberation, the tenants were subjected to endless exploitation by the Japanese colonialists.

- Modern Street in Busan: is a re-enactment of Daecheong-dong Street during the Japanese occupation. Streets with shops show what Busan's commercial center was like at that time. Moreover, the installed model of a trolley that used to run in downtown Busan makes visitors feel like they are traveling back in time.

Address: 104 Daecheong-ro, Daecheongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Busan

Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 09:00 - 18:00 (if there is a public holiday on Monday, the Museum will be closed on Tuesday)

Entrance ticket: free