JAPAN

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The most interesting destination I’ve traveled to while I’ve been in South Korea has to be Busan. Located about 200 miles southeast of Seoul, it’s only around three hours away from Osan if you take the bullet train. We easily booked a house through Air BnB and set off for our 3-day/2-night adventure. Upon arrival, we all immediately took notice to how different the climate and culture felt from the Seoul area, despite still being in the same country. Busan is the second largest city in South Korea and is a giant port with miles of coastline. Although we went in October and the weather was starting to turn cold, one of the biggest draws are the many beaches in Busan – for this reason I’ll probably end up going back in the summer.

Traveling around was easy enough with the train system and train app we had downloaded. The first evening we checked in to our lodging and went out for a great Italian dinner nearby. The next day we visited a Japanese food exposition at a nearby convention center and ate our fill of ramen and gyoza. Afterwards, we visited the impressive Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, a Buddhist temple built in 1376 that is right on the coastline. The scenery of being right by the ocean, coupled with the architecture of the temple and its statues, made for a memorable day.

Even though we only had a few days to experience the city, it left a positive impression on me and my friends. If you’re ever in South Korea and looking for a destination beyond Seoul’s limits, I’d consider turning your gaze Busan’s way.

• Why I like working for AFN: When I was a kid living overseas, all we had to listen to or watch was AFN – I listened to the radio, watched the news, and it left an impression on me. I’ve always been interested in music and current events as well, so now as a radio DJ I’m able to surround myself with a few things I considered hobbies in the first place.

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