From Suyeong Bay’s Reclaimed Land to Film Street: A Night Walk through Busan Marine City

The Coast That Became ‘Marine City’ from the Suyeongman Reclamation Site in the 1980s

Marine City is not an old village on a natural coast but an area created by reclaiming the public waters of Suyeongman. Busan city planning records state that 75,780㎡ of the Suyeongman public-water reclamation site was incorporated into the urban planning area on February 15, 1985. This reclamation project was also connected to securing land for the yacht stadium to be used for the 1986 Seoul Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Afterward, Suyeongman Reclamation Site began using the name ‘Marine City’ in November 2007. Mixed-use residential and commercial complexes such as Hyperion, Adelise, Trump World Marine, and We’ve Poseidon, supplied in the early 2000s and occupied after 2005, formed the high-rise coastal skyline seen today. In other words, this landscape is not made up of alleys in a traditional port village, but is the urban coastline of eastern Busan created by the yacht stadium and reclamation development.

One to Two Hours from 51 Marine City 1-ro to the Movie Street

The reference address is 51 Marine City 1-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan Metropolitan City. Marine City itself is an area where a coastal road, commercial districts, residential areas, and the Movie Street are connected, rather than a single paid facility. Therefore, there is no separate ticket office or reservation requirement; admission is free, and it is Informationed as open year-round at all times. Inquiries can be made at the Haeundae Tourist Information Center at 051-749-5700.

For first-time visitors, it is easiest to understand the area by following the seaside pedestrian path from the entrance to Marine City toward the Movie Street and the yacht stadium. Busan Galmaet-gil’s ‘YOLO Course 4’ is presented as approximately 5 km from the Movie Street (Marine City) to Millakgyo Bridge and Gwangalli Beach, taking about 1 hour 30 minutes. If you only intend to see Marine City’s night view and waterfront, allow 1–2 hours; if you plan to continue walking to Gwangalli, allow at least 1 hour 30 minutes.

• Admission: Free
• Closed days: None
• Hours: Open at all times
• Inquiries: Haeundae Tourist Information Center, 051-749-5700
• Recommended stay: 1–2 hours for the Marine City section; approximately 1 hour 30 minutes or more when connecting to Gwangalli

How to Enter from Dongbaek Station Exit 2 and the Daewoo Marina Apartments Bus Stop

For subway users, it is practical to use Dongbaek Station on Busan Metro Line 2 as the reference point. Directions to 39 Marine City 3-ro indicate approximately a 10-minute walk from Dongbaek Station Exit 2, with additional walking time required as you go farther into Marine City. If you have luggage or are visiting on a rainy day, choosing the destination building’s address first and then taking a taxi can reduce the risk of navigational errors.

Bus routes 307 and express route 1003 stop at the Daewoo Marina Apartments bus stop, which is approximately a 7-minute walk from 39 Marine City 3-ro. Routes 100, 100-1, 31, and 200 stop at Dongbaek Station bus stop, which is also about a 10-minute walk away. When traveling between Busan Station, Gwangalli, and the Haeundae beach area, express route 1003 passes near the Movie Street in Marine City and the Busan Yachting Center.

• Subway: Dongbaek Station Exit 2 on Line 2; approximately a 10-minute walk to the entrance of Marine City
• Bus: Get off at the Daewoo Marina Apartments stop on routes 307 or 1003; approximately a 7-minute walk
• Bus: Get off at the Dongbaek Station stop on routes 100, 100-1, 31, or 200; approximately a 10-minute walk
• Travel between Busan Station, Gwangalli, and Haeundae: Take express route 1003

When Gwangan Bridge Lights Up and What to Consider on Windy Days

Marine City is a place to view the skyline and Gwangan Bridge from the outdoor waterfront rather than from an indoor observatory in a building. After sunset, building and bridge lights reflect on the sea, and the Busan Tourism Organization introduces The Bay 101 and the entrance to Dongbaekseom Island as locations offering close views of Haeundae’s high-rise nightscape. This makes it possible to walk around Marine City and then move toward Dongbaekseom Island for a change of perspective.

However, the waters directly in front of the reclamation site are directly affected by wind and waves. Busan has been carrying out the Suyeongman Natural Disaster Risk Improvement District maintenance project from 2017 through December 31, 2027, targeting the densely developed residential and commercial area of Marine City. The project specifies disaster-prevention facilities for the storm-surge risk district and the installation of detached breakwaters. On days with strong-wind, heavy-rain, or high-wave advisories, prioritize weather information and on-site control notices rather than going all the way to the waterfront edge. At night, it is safer to wear non-slip shoes and bring an outer layer.

The Reality of Marine City: More Complicated Than a Single Parking Lot

Marine City is not an area with a dedicated public tourist parking lot; it is a district where parking facilities for mixed-use complexes, hotels, and shops are intermingled. If your destination is a restaurant, café, or hotel, you must check individually whether that building provides parking support and when vehicle exits close. If you only intend to take a coastal walk, parking availability and fees cannot be considered uniformly established. In particular, 51 Marine City 1-ro is the address of Park Hyatt Busan, so its parking conditions should not be generalized as parking information for all of Marine City.

Visitor-oriented guides repeatedly mention both the advantages of Marine City’s night view and the inconvenience and high prices of parking. Drivers should account for the possibility that destination shopping-center parking lots may be full on weekend evenings. Using Dongbaek Station on Metro Line 2 or bus routes 307 and 1003 can reduce the time spent searching for parking. Official barrier-free information introduces the main entrance access route and entrance passage as accessible because they have no steps or thresholds for strollers and wheelchairs. However, same-day confirmation is necessary regarding long-distance walking along the waterfront and any construction sections.

• Dedicated tourist parking lot: No comprehensive separate information confirmed
• Recommended: Check parking support and fees at the shopping center or hotel you plan to visit in advance
• Wheelchairs and strollers: Official information provides details of step-free access routes and entrance passages
• Foreign-language assistance: Haeundae Tourist Information Center, 051-749-5700; Tourist Information Hotline 1330 also available

4.5 km from the Movie Street through Millakgyo Bridge to Gwangalli

If you would like to walk farther from Marine City, you can choose the coastal route from the Movie Street, across Suyeonggyo Bridge, toward Gwangalli Beach. Busan’s Galmaet-gil guide introduces the approximately 4.5 km section from the Movie Street, across Suyeonggyo Bridge, to Gwangalli as a night trekking route. The same guide lists YOLO Course 4 as approximately 5 km and 1 hour 30 minutes, so the outing extends to more than 2 hours when time for photography, cafés, and meals is added.

The key feature of this route is that it lets you experience separately the section where you view Marine City’s high-rise buildings up close and the section where you look at Marine City from a distance from Millak Waterfront Park and the Gwangan Bridge area. Conversely, it is not suitable for people expecting stairs, exhibition halls, or beach activities. The central experience here is not paid content but walking beside the sea, the night view, and the contrast between the yacht stadium and the urban scenery of the reclamation site. Satisfaction may therefore be lower during prolonged rain or extreme midday heat.

Who Should Choose Marine City—and Who May Be Better Off Avoiding It

Marine City suits people who want to see an urban coastline rather than Haeundae’s sandy beach, and those who want a nighttime walk with Gwangan Bridge and high-rise buildings in the same frame. Since it is free and open at all times, visitors are not restricted by check-in times or admission deadlines. It can be reached with an approximately 10-minute walk from Dongbaek Station and extended into a continuous 4.5–5 km walking route to Gwangalli.

On the other hand, it is better to lower its priority if you are looking for a tourist attraction with indoor exhibitions, shade, or designated children’s play facilities, or if you find it difficult to stay outdoors for a long time on windy days. If your only goal is night photography, an efficient approach is to arrive just after sunset or in the early evening, walk for only 60–90 minutes, and check the last return bus and subway times in advance. A YouTube search was conducted, but no video was included because the search service’s daily quota had been exceeded and no results could be obtained.