How Far Have You Been in Korea? Gimhae: A Good City for a Slow Day Next to Busan

Introduction

You may have heard of Busan many times, but Gimhae may still feel unfamiliar.

But if you move just a little west of Busan, you reach a city with a completely different mood. Instead of the sea, there are low streets. Instead of large tourist landmarks, there are old tombs and markets. Gimhae may be a name you only knew from the airport, but once you walk through it, it becomes a surprisingly comfortable place for a day trip.

This article introduces Gimhae.

1. What Kind of Place Is Gimhae?

Gimhae is a city of about 560,000 people in Gyeongsangnam-do. It sits right next to Busan, and Gimhae International Airport and the Busan-Gimhae Light Rail make it fairly easy to reach.¹²³

The city's roots go back a long way. Gimhae was once the center of the ancient Gaya kingdom, and the Daeseong-dong Tumuli became part of a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2023.⁴ When you walk through Gimhae, you can feel the quiet mood of an old historical city. It is not a fast city like Seoul or Busan. It is a city you understand better when you walk slowly.

Of course, Gimhae also has many industrial areas. Auto parts, machinery, metal, and other manufacturing businesses are clustered around the city, and many foreign residents live here too.⁵⁶ But this article does not look at Gimhae only as a work city. Gimhae also has streets to walk on a day off and food worth making a small trip for.

2. If You Had One Day Here

If this is your first time in Gimhae, start around Bonghwang-dong and Buwon-dong. This is where old central Gimhae and the newer neighborhood mood still sit together. Nearby, you will find Gimhae Dwaetgogi Street, and also Bongnidan-gil, where small cafes and restaurants are gathered.

During the day, walk slowly around the Daeseong-dong Tumuli or the Royal Tomb of King Suro. These are not big, flashy tourist sites, but they help you understand why Gimhae is called a city of Gaya history. If you have just come from Busan, Gimhae may feel even quieter. That quietness is part of its charm.

In the evening, you can eat pork barbecue, or move toward Dongsang-dong and Seosang-dong. This area has Global Food Town, where restaurants and grocery shops from countries such as Vietnam, India, Thailand, and Uzbekistan are gathered.⁷ This is not just a place to look at something unfamiliar. It is a real everyday neighborhood where people who live here eat and shop.

3. As of 2026, What Should You Eat in Gimhae?

At the time of writing in 2026, the latest official restaurant list available on the Gimhae Tourism Portal is the 2025 Gimhae Restaurants list.⁸ The restaurants and food streets below were chosen based on that list and Gimhae's official tourism information. Hours, closing days, and prices can change, so check a map app once more before you go.

The first food many people think of in Gimhae is dwaetgogi (뒷고기), grilled pork specialty cuts. The Gimhae Tourism Portal introduces the Gimhae Dwaetgogi Street around Bonghwang-dong and Buwon-dong as one of the city's food streets.⁹ The mood is casual and a little noisy. If you want to experience a Korean-style pork barbecue restaurant, it is a good choice.

If you want a more special meal, there is eel in Buram-dong. The Gimhae Tourism Portal introduces Buram-dong Eel Town as a food street, and the 2025 Gimhae Restaurants list includes Geumcheon Jangeo Gui.⁸⁹ Eel is not usually a light meal for your wallet, but in Korea it is often eaten as a stamina food.

If you have a reason to go toward Jinyeong, Jinyeong galbi is also worth remembering. The Gimhae Tourism Portal introduces restaurants such as Namgojip, Daejin Galbi, Dowon Galbi, Surim Garden, and Jinyeong Citizens Galbi as representative local food places.¹⁰ The sweet and savory marinated ribs are easy to enjoy even if you are trying them for the first time.

There are also days when Korean food does not fit what you want. On those days, Global Food Town helps. Places such as Namaste Gimhae Restaurant, New Little India, Ran Con Muong, Ruean Thai, and Samarkand are introduced in Gimhae tourism materials.⁷ When you live in Korea, there will be days when you need a familiar taste. Gimhae has a street for those days.

4. What to Know Before You Go

Gimhae is next to Busan, but it is not Busan. If you plan to move around late at night, check the light rail and bus times first. Depending on where you are going inside Gimhae, a taxi may be easier.

Summer is hot and humid. Winter can feel colder than you might expect. If you assume that every southern city is always warm, you may be surprised. It is easier to plan walking routes during the day, then focus on restaurants or cafes in the evening.

You will also hear the Gyeongsang accent often in Gimhae. At first, it may sound fast or strong. But most of the time, it is simply the local way of speaking. After a few days, that accent may start to feel like part of the city's atmosphere.

Wrapping Up

Gimhae is not a major tourist destination that everyone says you must visit. It is more like an everyday city sitting quietly next to Busan. That is why it can feel easier to approach.

It is a city where you can walk slowly for a day, eat a good meal of pork or eel, and meet a familiar smell in an unfamiliar alley.

Korea is not only Seoul and Busan. There are also quieter cities like Gimhae: names you may not hear often, but places that stay in your memory after you walk through them. If you are going near Busan, try adding Gimhae for a day. It may stay with you longer than you expect.

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