Instead, the eerily quiet village is a destination for a different type of travelerone that’s not driven by foodie discovery or lazing on the beach, the primary reasons Koreans vacation in Busan.
Instead, Gamcheon lures travelers with an interest in art and history.
Religious roots
The village has an unusual origin story.
Many accounts say Gamcheon began as a slum town in the 1950s filled with refugees from the aftermath of the Korean War, but the village actually owes its beginnings to an ascetic religious community called Taegeukdo, an obscure religion birthed during political upheavals in Korea in the early 1900s.
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How to get there
In Busan, take the subway to Toseong-dong Station or Goejeong Station, then take a taxi to Busan Gamjeong Elementary School (taxi will cost approximately $2.50).
Tour company Jane Tour & DMC offers day tours in English from $300; +82 70 7393 2428
Gamcheon Culture Village, 10-13 Gamcheon-2-dong, Saha-gu, Busan, South Korea; +82 70 4219 5556; Sky Garden village information center open daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
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