From Jagalchi Sijang main entrance, just walk across to the opposite and that's where BIFF Square is. BIFF (Busan International Film Festival) back then was know as PIFF due to Busan was spell as Pusan. It was built in 1996 to held the First International Film Festival" in Korea. Up to date, a total 15th of International Film Festival has been held at here every year. Besides that, famous cinema chains such as CGV, Megabox and etc are gather around Movie Theater Street where the locals especially youngsters love to come here for latest movies. Therefore, street foods, cafes, restaurants are blooming at the square. Fashion streets - Gwangbok-ro is another attraction here for those who want to shop for cosmetics and fashions. And, the entrance of the escalators up to the top of Yongdusan Park where Busan Tower is, is also in the square.
We had Odeng (fish cake skewers) and Odeng-guk (fish cake broth), also Wonjo Chapsal Hotteok (brown sugar pancake) here. Do look down while you walking on the main street - the 428 meter-long "Walk of Fame" with handprints of Korean movie stars as well as overseas film makers are line up from Star Street (Buyeong Theater @ Nampo-dong) to Festival Street (the overpass @ Chungmu-dong). Food stalls (Pojangmacha 포장마차) that line up along the road in PIFF Square that operates from late evening onwards till late night is another a popular place for drinking and supper among Koreans.
We further walk to Gukje Sijang 국제시장 which is neighbor with the square. Gukje Sijang or better known as Busan International Market is connected with Bupyeong Kkangtong Sijang and other smaller scale markets and become one of the largest market in Korea. Almost everything can be find here: households, stationary, clothing, cosmetics, foods, local agricultural products, electronics items. Among all, I found Bupyeong Kkangtong Sijang more interesting, as it sells alots of foreign goods e.g liquors, foods, ornaments, fashion and accesories, and etc, including replica stuffs. Back then, Kkangtong is the only place that supply imported goods from overseas to nationwide in Korea.
We did another pit stop for tteokbokki and odeng at Chungmu Myeongmyul Gimbap Sesang 충무명물김밥세상~ a gimbap place that has been running for business more than 30 years here in PIFF. Assorted Odeng price between 500 won to 1,000 won per skewer; while tteokbokki at 1,000 won with generous portion. So cheap! The fish cake broth is free flow and self-serve. Those orange color plastic cups that resembles spoons are to use to drink broth. The gimbap place is located at 24-1 Jung gu-ro, Sinchang-dong 1-ga, 13-1, Jung-gu, Busan.
In summary, BIFF is like Busan version of Myeong-dong in Seoul, while Busan also have Busan Tower similar to Seoul Tower. While Gukje-sijang is like Dongdamun.
How to get here:
Busan Metro Line 1 - Jagalchi Station Exit 7
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