Busan Modern History Museum

Hello, the Busan Modern History Museum, located near Busan International Market and Yongdusan Park, was built in September 1929 as the office building of the Busan branch of Oriental Development Company.

Dongyang Cheoksik Co., Ltd. was a Japanese state-run company and was relocated to the U.S. after liberation, and the U.S. Cultural Center was opened in July 1949, and was also used as the U.S. embassy during the Korean War in 1950.

Busan Modern History Museum

Busan Modern History Museum

Busan Modern History Museum

Busan Modern History Museum

Because of this history, the Busan Modern History Museum was regarded as a symbol of foreign rule over the Korean Peninsula. On March 18, 1982, an arson incident occurred at the Busan American Cultural Center, and on April 30, 1999, it was returned to the Korean government and owned by Busan City in June.

The Busan Metropolitan Government opened on July 3, 2003 at the current Busan Modern History Museum after about three years of remodeling to use the building, which was liberated from foreign powers and returned to the arms of our people, as a space to understand and educate turbulent modern and contemporary history. Exhibits such as videos and models, including 200 cultural properties that give you a glimpse of Busan’s modern and contemporary history, are displayed on the second and third floors.

The exhibition room on the second floor consists of three themes: Busan Modern Port Opening, Japanese Imperialism Busan exploitation, and Modern City Busan, and exhibited Busan’s modern history due to Japanese invasion and exploitation.

Busan Modern History Museum

Busan Modern History Museum

Busan Modern History Museum

Busan Modern History Museum

Busan Modern History Museum

Busan Modern History Museum

Busan Modern History Museum

Busan Modern History Museum

The exhibition room on the third floor consists of Oriental Development Co., Ltd. and modern and contemporary Korea-U.S. relations, introducing the looting of Japanese imperialist forces in detail. In addition, it reproduces the streets of Daecheong-dong during the Japanese colonial period, including models of tanks from the modern era of Busan, giving you a glimpse into the life of the time.

Busan Modern History Museum

Busan Modern History Museum

Busan Modern History Museum

Busan Modern History Museum

The information desk on the 1st floor, information search room, data room, video room.

The 1st exhibition hall on the 2nd floor.

<Busan Modern Port Opening>
After the port opened in 1876, the Japanese took Joseon’s rice out of Busan to Japan, and Japanese businesses to sell Japanese industrial products came to Joseon to trade.

<The exploitation of Busan by Japanese imperialism>
Japanese imperialism established the Busan Bucheong Office to control Busan administratively and expanded its control to the administrative unit below it.

<Busan in a Modern City>
Busan changed from a fishing village to a modern city after the port opened.

The 2nd exhibition room on the 3rd floor.
<Oriental Development Company>
Dongyang Cheoksik Co., Ltd. is a state-run company established in 1908 by Japan with the aim of dominating the shipbuilding economy. This company was established to receive a stable supply of rice from Joseon.

<Korea-U.S relationship>
The beginning of Korea-US relations in the 19th century.

How to go：Exit 5 from Jungang-dong Station on Busan Subway Line 1 and go straight toward Yongdusan Park for about 5 minutes to see the Busan Modern History Museum on the left.