Celebrate as the sun rises on a new year

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Published: 18 Dec. 2015, 14:02

Celebrate as the sun rises on a new year

People flock to Haeundae Beach on Jan. 1 to see the first sunrise. Pictured above are people waiting for the brand new sun at Haeundae Sunrise Festival.

The sunrise at Songjeong Beach.

Visitors to last year's Sunrise Festival take pictures in front of a sheep-depicting installation.

Say farewell amid an amazing sunset

■ Witness the last sun at Dadaepo

Droves of people head to Dadaepo Beach on Dec. 31 every year.

The beach, most famed for its beautiful sunsets, is a popular haunt among photographers. But many Busan residents and tourists also flock to the area to wrap up the year and see December's final sunset.

And the sunset in Molundae is nothing short of a visual wonder. Here, Saha Sunset Road has been designated as a place, where people can take a leisurely stroll against a beautiful backdrop.

Furthermore, the flora at Dadaepo Beach, where the Nakdonggang River meets the ocean, is inviting and well-preserved: More than 100,000 migrating birds spend their winters here, drawn by the area's clean and pristine environment.

Make sure to go to the three-story observatory, overlooking the sweeping view of the Nakdonggang estuary. Visitors can also observe migrating birds through a telescope.

This year, the last sunset is expected at 5:20 p.m. Try to arrive at the venue early to check out the nearby promenade and wait for the triumphant sunset.

The sunset at Dadaepo Beach is truly awe-inspiring since the ball of fire slowly sinks against the calm ocean, juxtaposed with a slew of little islands. It is a perfect setting to close out the year.

-How to get there: Get off at Goejeong Station on Metro line No. 1 and take bus Nos. 2, 11 or 96 and get off at Daewoo Apartment Complex or Dadaepo. Walk toward the beach.

Dadaepo Beach boasts stunning sunsets. People bask in its golden hues.

Ring away the old year

■ The Citizen's Bell Ringing Ceremony

On Dec. 31 every year, tens of thousands of people flock to Yongdusan Mountain Park, where they count down to the start of the New Year.

Korea has bell-ringing ceremonies in different parts of the peninsula. While Seoul hosts the Bosingak Bell Ringing Ceremony in Jongno, Busan has its own version at Yongdusan Mountain Park.

The event starts at 11 p.m. and features musical performances, bell-ringing, a fireworks festival and a New Year's address. The energy is then kicked up a notch with performances by a chorus and various musical acts in the lead-up to midnight. Visitors can also take commemorative pictures in every corner of the park, dotted with beautiful light installations.

The highlight of the program, the bell-ringing ceremony, begins with a vigorous countdown 10 seconds before midnight.

Every New Year's Eve, designated dignitaries from across society ring the bell 33 times. The bell is struck 11 times each time, for three rounds, to symbolize hope, love and peace. Afterward, colorful fireworks crisscross the night skies to top off the celebration.

This year, the mayor of Busan is scheduled to present a New Year's address to wish good luck and good health to all Busan residents and tourists.

-How to get there: Get off at Nampo Station on Metro line No. 1 and walk about 200 meters along Gwangbok-ro for three to five minutes. An escalator leads up to Yongdusan Mountain Park.
-Information: festival.busan.kr/ENG

Last year's Citizen's Bell Ringing Ceremony at Yongdusan Mountain Park.

Greet a new dawn, pray for your wishes to come true

■ Haeundae Sunrise Festival

The sunrise on Jan. 1 is undoubtedly special. People pray for hope, health and happiness before a new dawn in a new year. The emerging sun is particularly impressive in Busan, where there is no shortage of mountains or amazing natural scenery.

A captivating sunrise can be glimpsed in many parts of the city and attracts many people to nearby peaks and beaches on Jan. 1.

Among them, the most highly sought after is Korea's No. 1 Haeundae Beach, which attracts tens of thousands of people on the first day of the year. Last year, the venue saw a crowd of more than 300,000 people.

The sunrise festival, starting at 6 a.m. on Jan. 1, pulsates with excitement as the masses begin to gather.

Foreign tourists and Koreans from all over the country wait for a view of the sunrise, warming themselves with the hot beverages given away at nearby booths. Chinese zodiac installations are set up annually to celebrate the corresponding year, and 2016 is the year of the monkey.

As the sun rises above the horizon, between 7:20 and 7:30 a.m., visitors can write down their New Year's wishes on paper or take selfies against a festive beachside backdrop.

Then, the excitement is taken to the next level with various events, including musical performances and ocean swimming.

-How to get there: Go out exit 3 or 5 of Haeundae Station on Metro line No. 2 and walk about 500 meters for 10 minutes. You will see the beach ahead.