Gamcheon Culture Village(감천문화마을) : The village located in Busan, Korea

The village is located in Gamcheon-dong, Saha-gu, Busan, and is a representative landmark of Wondocheong, Busan. This is a successful example of the success of urban regeneration projects through the Sanbok Road Renaissance Project.

There is the nickname Machu Picchu or Santorini in Korea. However, it does not stick to the shore like Santorini in Greece, nor does it resemble Santorini. To make matters worse, Gamcheon Port is located about a kilometer from Gamcheon Port Jungbu, the nearest beach, to Gamcheon 2-dong Community Center, the entrance of the village. As of 2019, more and more people are comparing the white-yeoul culture village of Yeongdo-gu, a village in front of the coastal cliff, as Santorini.

It was selected as the Korea National Tourism Organization's 100th Korean tourist destination, 2019 and 2020.

At the time of the Korean War, the refugees who fled to Busan and the sacred land of Taegeukdo, along with the people who had fled to the southern port city of Busan, settled down and built their own houses on the bare ground, forming a small village, and as the refugees flocked, the plain areas of Busan were filled with urban areas, eventually forming villages to the hillside where no one was allowed to live. Although most of the working population of shipyards and factories in Gupyeong-dong, near the site, was supplied for a long time, due to the natural limitation of the background of the village's creation, many people fled to emerging residential areas such as Dadaedong, Hadang-dong, and Gojeong-dong due to the collapse of nearby Gupyeong Industrial Complex in places where transportation and daily life were inconvenient. Around the early 1970s, population began to decline, with 21,231 people living as of 1995, but only 8,077 as of 2016, a whopping -62% decrease over the 21st year. Many of the remaining people were elderly people, including the elderly, who lived alone, and 27 percent of the population aged 65 or older entered the super-aged society. The average age of the remaining population is already in their mid-50s, and many are elderly dependents or low-income people.

I have appeared in several music videos several times because of the unusual scenery of a house with a colorful detached house clinging to a hill. From around 2007, word of mouth began to circulate among photographers, called "Korea’s Santorini," and the photos began to be known nationwide as hidden attractions as they circled the Internet. The movie "Hero" and "My New Partner" were also featured in the movie "Saengsa" set in Busan, and the house where the main characters, Lee Sang-do (Ryu Seung-bum), his uncles Lee Taek-jo (Kim Hee-ra), and Kim Ji-young (Chu Ja-hyun) live in the same neighborhood. It has since been known as a tourist attraction nationwide, but in fact, it is a representative underdeveloped area of Busan that began as a Korean War refugee camp, where actual residents always want to escape. So, it's probably quite bitter for the residents to visit and take pictures with pleasure. When it first became known as a tourist attraction in Busan and began to attract photographers from across the country, both professional and amateur, "Are we zoos monkeys?There was a strong backlash among the residents.

However, with the support of the Busan Metropolitan Government and the active promotion of the Saha District, the works of artists were installed and various environmental beautification projects made it a must-see course for Busan from 2010 onwards, and became a tourist destination for more than 100,000 tourists a year. Based on the 2019 statistics, the number of visitors is estimated at as many as 2.5 million, it said. Residents' reactions are now rather indifferent, but there are no direct benefits to residents, and many tourists on the weekend have made major roads so crowded with people that access to the traffic around them has been significantly reduced, there are no bathhouses and lawmakers, which are necessary for residents, and there are still many complaints that thoughtless tourists snoop around, make noise and take pictures on the rooftops. When it comes to just walking in the alley, I don't know if it's a situation where people just go in quietly and take a picture of themselves or get lost, but many residents are uncomfortable because of snooping and staring at them, and sometimes come into their homes. As a result, various complaints have been filed against them, and some university clubs or departments have been interviewing residents during the vacation and digging up problems, and some seem to make them public.

The most interesting thing is that after becoming a tourist attraction, the biggest change is the change in the local business district. Previously, there were many liquor businesses or restaurants targeting local residents and workers working at the Gupyeong industrial park, but now they have established a village company targeting tourists to open cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops. There are still no convenience stores, however, and there are two bathrooms. Convenience stores or franchises are preventing them from opening in the village community. The reason is that profits go only to the headquarters of large corporations and there are very few benefits to residents. It is said to grant business licenses only in the form of village businesses or personal self-employed businesses. There is a clause that prohibits franchisees from entering the district unit plan of the competent authority.

The most popular destination for tourists is Gamnae 2-ga, which has a high altitude and a good view. The Ginae 2-ro section of Sanya is mainly filled with people taking pictures of the scenery, and more and more shops are located on both sides of the road to the north, including shops for tourists, from here to the Gamcheon Culture Village public parking lot.

Transportation

While city bus No. 17 cuts off at the beginning of the village entrance, village bus No. 1 and Saha No. 1-1, Western No. 2 and Western No. 2-2 enter the village’s inner entrance (gamjeong Elementary School). Of course, if you came here on No. 17, you can walk up to Gamcheon-dong’s end point.

Generally, transfer is made from the Western Office or from Toseong Station on Busan Subway Line 1. If transfer is made at the Western Government Office, transfer is made from the Busan University Hospital Station, located near the emergency room of the Pusan National University Hospital. Most of them are also sightseeing in the city, so it is highly likely that they will come this way.

Other methods are to take Saha No. 1 and Saha No. 1-1 from Gojong Elementary School, which is often used when coming from western mountains, Jinhae/ Geoje districts or riding No. 1001.

Another method is to transfer from Gamcheon intersection to Saha No. 1, Saha 1-1 and Western No. 2-2, which is related to No. 1011. This is the shortest route connecting Haeundae New Town, Dongmyeong University, Yeongdo-gu, Sinpyeong-dong, Myeongji Ocean City, and Gamcheon Culture Village, which is often used as a one-way tour for those who have taken up lodgings in Haeundae-gu because it combines with the Gwangan Bridge and Busan Hangdae Bridge. However, the gap between 1011 and 1011 for 30 minutes is flawed.