PUSAN / BUSAN -- area code (82-51)

The population of Pusan is nearing 4 million (that's more than 150,000 Utopians).
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• Pusan / Busan Gay Scene Updates

The updated and expanded 2nd Edition of the Utopia Guide to South Korea offers a remarkable insider's glimpse at the gay and lesbian scene in 7 cities including Seoul, Pusan, Taegu and Taejon. Listings include organizations, bars, discos, accommodations, spas, restaurants, and more. A special section highlights venues that are especially welcoming for women. Enjoy savvy comments and recommendations from local Utopians and gay travelers. Click here to order

To get to the main gay area of Pusan, take the subway to Beomildong (two stops from the city center, Seomyeon). Come out of the subway and you'll see Hyundai Department Store. As you face Hyundai, you'll see a road alongside the stores on your left. Go down this road for 20m or so, and then take the first street on your left. This is the gay area. The first bar you'll see is Zip (on your right). 200m further down is the equally well-known bar, Trunkshow (also on your right), and just after that another bar called Someone. Across from Someone is the rustic gay restaurant known as Oasis (even though it's actually next door to Oasis). The clientele here are somewhat older. If you stay on this side of the street and walk back a short distance in the direction of Zip, you'll find the new and very popular One Bar. There is a soju bar named Agit (no longer gay) in the street that runs parallel to this main gay one. G-Men is just around the corner from Agit. There are also a few gay karaoke bars in this area, but be aware that you'll be expected to purchase expensive side dishes with your drinks. The area is perfectly safe, and you'll see many gay men walking around, often in pairs.
• Campus
  441-7032. Karaoke anju bar near the train station, to the extreme right (the road closest to and parallel to the train tracks) as you walk out of the station, about 5 minutes walk. Male hosts and expensive snacks. The owner speaks minimal English. The Tourist booth across from the train station can give you the phone number.
• Club One
  Beomildong (across the road and a little further down from Trunkshow), 631-8559. A great place to hang out. It's small but always busy, especially Fri and Sat nights. The bartender/owner is cute. Even though the owner doesn't speak English, foreigners are still welcome and do come here. Prices of the drinks are reasonable and free snacks are always provided. Attractively designed, with both table and bar seating in a relaxing environment. Young local crowd.
• G-Men
  Beomildon, around the corner from Agit. A tiny, intimate bar with counter seating only.
• Rock
  Beomildong, 633-6694, 011-9772-6694, email. Call for directions. The former owner of Zip opened this cocktail bar. A cozy, homey cocktail bar featuring Wi-Fi. English and Japanese are spoken. Friendly tourists and locals.
• Trunkshow
  051-638-7958. The bar is in the same street as Zip, and is on the other side of the road and a little further down from the rustic restaurant next door to Oasis. Trunk Show is easily spotted by its distinctive street-level photo of a muscular male torso. One of the first gay bars in Pusan, has reopened in 2004 in a new location - the so-called "gay district" behind Hyundai Department Store in Beomildong (two stops on the subway from Seomyeon). Its original owner, Ji Hyo, has returned and is a most congenial host. He welcomes all people, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, and his bar offers a very relaxing, intimate atmosphere with great music. He also speaks some English.
• Zip
  Beomildong (a few hundred feet south of Hyundai Department Store), 645-3625, email. Zip is one of the most established gay cocktail bars and an ideal starting point for the single visitor to the gay area. Newly redecorated and, although somewhat smoky, it's got a nice ambience with soft lighting and candles on the tables. Prices are reasonable (with free snacks provided). The bar features free Internet access and gay magazines are available for reading. Popular with Koreans and foreigners alike. zip's owner goes out of his way to make people feel welcome. While his English is minimal (he does speak some Japanese, which probably explains why his bar is popular with Japanese tourists), there is usually someone on hand to help the occasional bewildered Westerner.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Zip is a great place to visit. Bar owner is very friendly, speaks fairly good English, and helped me find other places. Met a lot of Korean guys and a few western guys. Made it very enjoyable to be in Busan." -- markciccone, Aug 24, 2009

  Comments from Utopians:

  "New one-shot bar called ROCK in Busan/Beomil Dong. Really nice interior and great place to hang out. No singing and no table charge. Take a right at Banana and walk down. It is located in the old Say Ah location, but totally remodeled and great feel. All ages and a good mix of people." -- omggossip, Aug 27, 2009

  "I highly recommend the newly opened one-shot bar, Mong. I feel very comfortable whenever I visit. The owner can speak English well and the people are very friendly. For directions, call 051-638-7958." -- simba, Aug 22, 2009

  "There is no gay dance bar in Busan, however, if you visit Banana Bar, they sometimes turn down the lights for a bit when the young, local guys want to dance." -- hrnytop, Jun 23, 2009

  "New bar, called Banana Bar, right opposite G-Men. Good spot. Barman very friendly and helpful. Showed us all the other bars on a map, but we returned to his as it was 'the best.' :-) No name outside, just the picture of a banana. By the way, they give a free banana with every drink. Nice touch." -- dny1234, June 9, 2009

• Park in the center of town on a hill is a popular cruising spot.

• 4U
  (051) 466-7236, email. Across the road from the big Baptist Hospital. Look for the neon sign above ground at one corner of the Choryang Dong subway station (Line 1). Friendly for foreigners.
• Dong-Gyong (mixed)
  Somyon, a 5-minute walk from the Somyon subway station. Head east on the north side of the street of the Somyon Rotary, and turn left at the first corner, then turn right on next corner. Behind the north-east building at the Somyon Rotary. Not gay, but some of the guests are mature gays. Open 24 hours, but especially popular in the daytime, from 2-6pm. There is play in the dark sleeping room. Very popular on Sat afternoon. Closed Sun.
• EX
  4/F of the Ceramic Tile (sae-rah-mik) Bld in Beomildong (opposite Sahmil Cinema), 633-1611. To get to EX, leave Jwacheon-dong station at Exit 7 and south from the station for a few minutes. At the big intersection, you will see train tracks on right, turn that way and walk west, past the train tracks, until you reach the big main avenue where you will see a neon sign for EX on 1/F of a gray building. Taxi drivers are also familiar with the place, just mention the Sahmil Geuk-Jang (cinema). This jjimjilbang attracts a younger clientele than most other sleeping rooms in Busan. Gay DVDs and the Internet are available, and its rooms are clean and attractive. Customers simply slip into the 'night attire' provided, choose a room to their liking, and then rest (or not). A very nice, intimate atmosphere pervades. Safety supplies on hand (bravo!). Open 24 hours and welcoming to foreigners. Some English spoken. Jam packed on weekends.
• Ho Chim Song
  Dong Nae. Not gay, but a must-see. A huge, well-known bathing complex with pools, caves, birds and completely nude -- sports teams hang out, lounging around, rough-housing, exercising, whatever. Obviously, this place is popular with gays.
• K
  Beomildong, 642-7715. Take Exit 3 from Jwacheon-dong Subway Station. When you reach the street level look for the narrow alley to your left. K is halfway up the alley. You can't miss their big orange sign with black letter K. The facility is very clean with numerous sleeping rooms, TV room, gay video room and showers. Private rooms also. Welcomes foreigners. Very busy on Fri and Sat nights. Mostly a mature crowd.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "I went there on Tue afternoon around 5pm, after I have done all the sightseeing. This place is fairly easy to find, right outside the Exit 3 of Jwacheong Dong. You cannot miss the big orange sign with a black K. Very dull when I arrived, the staff was sound asleep at the counter in his make-shift bed and I had to wake him up to be admitted. Facilities are OK but nothing fancy, the place is quite small. For the whole 3 hours, I was only with two other customers (I left at 8pm)! All I did was lie down and sleep in the dark room and chatting online with their free computer." -- HKFatBoy, Sep Sep 22, 2009

  "I have been to K several times, after 10:30pm during the week, and had great fun every time with mostly young to mid-aged local men that seem to like western guys." -- rolamani, Jan 4, 2009

• Otoko
  633-6566. To get here you must exit from the farthest entrance at the north in Beomildong and walk all the way to the last street on your left. When you get to this street, walk up to the end and the building will be to your left. There is a sign above the entrance of the building. Otoko is on 4/F of the corner building (on 1/F is a small supermarket and on 2/F and 3/F is a private academy). Sleeping Room for gays. Nice private rooms, computers, a big movie room, etc. The staff are nice to everyone. Very active on Fri and Sat nights.
• Size
  Jwacheondong. The biggest jjimjilbang in Pusan. Take the subway to Jwangcheon and take either exit 5 or 3 where you will see a small road. Walk and look on your right high up on the wall for a small sign that says Membership Club 3rd Floor. Many rooms including sleeping rooms. Nice, clean showers. Some of the staff speak English. Friendly towards westerners.