The 2005 Busan Summit Venue Remaining on 2,994.52㎡ at the Tip of Dongbaek Island
Nurimaru APEC House is a three-story international conference venue built on Dongbaek Island for the 2nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November 2005. Admission is free, but it is closed on the first Monday of every month. Since the Dongbaek Park parking lot is crowded on weekends and holidays, taking Dongbaek Station on Subway Line 2 or bus 1003 is the more practical option.
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Dongbaek Island, where the leaders of 21 economies met on November 19, 2005
Nurimaru APEC House is an international conference hall built in 2005 at the end of Dongbaek Island, 116 Dongbaek-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan Metropolitan City. The second Leaders’ Meeting was held here during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting held in Busan from November 12 to 19, 2005. Approximately 6,000 people, including leaders and government representatives from the 21 APEC member economies, businesspeople, and journalists, participated in the event.
APEC was launched in Canberra, Australia, in November 1989 with 12 countries and established its Leaders’ Meeting system in 1993. “Nurimaru” combines “nuri,” meaning the world, and “maru,” meaning the summit or top, conveying the idea of a place where world leaders gather for meetings. Since the 2005 meeting, it has continued to be used as a memorial hall and international conference space, making the site itself a record of Busan’s history as a convention city.
A summit meeting hall with a roof resembling the ridge of Dongbaek Island and a design inspired by Seokguram
The building was designed by Lee Yong-heum of Ilshin Architecture & Engineering, and has three above-ground floors with a total floor area of 2,994.52㎡. The Busan Metropolitan Government explains that, to minimize damage to Dongbaek Island’s natural environment, traditional spatial techniques such as daecheongmaru and toenmaru were applied to create a floor plan that draws the surrounding natural scenery into the building.
The exterior’s key feature is a modern reinterpretation of the traditional Korean pavilion. The rounded roof takes the shape of Dongbaek Island’s ridge, while the summit meeting hall on the third floor was designed with Seokguram as its motif. It also received the Gold Prize in the General Buildings—Excellent Design category of the 2005 Busan Architecture Award because it successfully combined the functions of an international conference venue with a Korean architectural language.
Durumagi, a model of the leaders’ dinner, and RFID exhibits at the APEC Memorial Hall on the third floor
The main focus of the visitor route is the APEC Memorial Hall on the third floor. The memorial hall opened on December 31, 2007, to commemorate the successful hosting of APEC 2005 KOREA and to use the site as a tourism resource. The exhibition includes an electronic guest book, a Twelve Longevity Symbols painting, panels explaining APEC’s history and member economies, and an exhibit of durumagi garments worn by the leaders.
The section covering preparations, schedules, and achievements related to the 2005 Busan meeting contains items used by the leaders, a model of Nurimaru, and a model of the leaders’ dinner. It also includes a U-media board that recognizes RFID cards and displays information about the member economies, as well as digital panels showing APEC photographs and Busan’s vision. The layout is better suited to visitors who want to read the records left by the 2005 meeting than to those who simply want to enjoy the view.
From admission at 09:00 to closing at 17:00: why to avoid the first Monday
Nurimaru APEC House is open daily from 09:00 to 18:00, with admission closing at 17:00. Admission is free, and the regular closing day is the first Monday of every month. Inquiries can be made at 051-743-1974~5, and official information is available at https://www.busan.go.kr/nurimaru.
The recommended stay is 30–45 minutes for the building and exhibitions alone, or approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours when combined with the coastal walking trail in Dongbaek Park. However, access may be temporarily restricted for international events or private bookings. For example, access-control notices were issued for the Busan World Design Capital agreement ceremony on March 27, 2026, so it is safest to check the notices on the official website on the day of your visit.
Getting there after Exit 1 of Dongbaek Station on Line 2 and the “Dongbaekseom” stop for bus 1003
The official public transportation information lists Exit 1 of Dongbaek Station on Busan Metro Line 2 and the Dongbaekseom stop served by city bus 1003. After arriving at the station or bus stop, visitors must walk through Dongbaek Park to reach the building, so this is not an itinerary where you arrive directly at the entrance like at a flat, indoor attraction. It is advisable to set “Nurimaru APEC House” as the destination in a map app and check the walking route.
By car, visitors can use the paid parking lot attached to Dongbaek Park and paid parking lots near Dongbaek Island. Official information states that parking around Dongbaek Island is limited and fills quickly on weekends and public holidays. Especially on holidays that coincide with a Haeundae Beach itinerary, it is better to approach by subway or bus rather than plan around finding parking.
From the 950-meter Dongbaek Park coastal trail and terrace toward Oryukdo and Gwangan Bridge
Nurimaru is located on Dongbaek Island beside Haeundae Beach, making it easy to combine a visit to the building with a walk through Dongbaek Park. The coastal walking trail in Dongbaek Park is known to be approximately 950 meters long, and along the route visitors can see a mermaid statue, the statue of Choe Chi-won, and Haeundae Pavilion in addition to Nurimaru. The building’s terrace offers views toward Oryukdo, Gwangan Bridge, and Dalmaji Hill.
Dongbaek Island is characterized by terrain surrounded by camellia and pine forests, so it is natural to continue along the coastal walkway after viewing the indoor exhibitions. Haeundae Beach and The Bay 101 are also in the same Haeundae coastal area, making it efficient to visit Nurimaru and Dongbaek Island in the morning and then move toward Haeundae Beach and Marine City in the afternoon.
A three-story building with an elevator and manual wheelchair rentals: consider the sloped sections in advance
According to information from the Accessible Tourism guide, all floors inside Nurimaru are connected by an elevator, and manual wheelchairs can be rented during visits. Nurimaru has one accessible restroom, and two accessible parking spaces are designated near Nurimaru. It is also stated that visitors with severe disabilities and others may enter Nurimaru by vehicle, so those who need this service should contact the management office in advance.
Some sections of the Dongbaek Park walking route have slopes of approximately 10 degrees, while the viewing decks and rest areas also include ramps with slopes of 5–9 degrees. Therefore, accessibility concerns are relatively limited if you only plan to visit the building’s interior, but visitors using mobility aids or traveling with strollers should account for the slopes and travel time when planning a walk around Dongbaek Island. An official English page is available for foreign-language information.
A conference venue that continues to host international events after 2005
Nurimaru is both a memorial hall exhibiting the past and an event venue. In 2010, the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting was held here, and on September 30, 2025, it was also used as a venue for an itinerary related to the South Korea–Japan summit meeting. For this reason, visitors should keep in mind that access restrictions may occur depending on private bookings and security schedules, even during regular visiting hours.
For travelers, this dual role is an important point. It is a place where photographs and artifacts from the 2005 summit meeting are displayed, while also serving as an active venue for diplomatic and international events. If your schedule is tight, walk around Dongbaek Island first and plan your building visit within the admission hours of 09:00–17:00; this way, the coastal walking itinerary can be maintained even if unexpected access restrictions arise.
Before You Go
- Address
- 116 Dongbaek-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan Metropolitan City
- Hours
- 09:00–18:00 (admission closes at 17:00)
- Closed
- First Monday of every month
- Admission
- Free
- Phone
- 051-743-1974~5
- Official site
- https://www.busan.go.kr/nurimaru
- Transport
- Exit 1 of Dongbaek Station on Busan Metro Line 2; get off at the Dongbaekseom stop on city bus 1003
- Parking
- Paid parking is available at the lot attached to Dongbaek Park and at paid parking lots near Dongbaek Island. Crowded on weekends and public holidays.
- Time needed
- Building and memorial hall: 30–45 minutes; including a walk through Dongbaek Park: 1 hour 30 minutes–2 hours
- Accessibility
- All floors connected by elevator; manual wheelchair rentals available; one accessible restroom and two accessible parking spaces near Nurimaru. Some sections of the Dongbaek Park walking trail are sloped. Official English information is available.
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.
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