Checking off the Bucket List: Gamcheon Culture Village

Before I even came to Korea, Gamcheon Culture Village was on my list. Although my initial plans for a dream trip with friends fell through due to Covid, I finally got to check it off my list after moving to Korea during a solo trip. I was particularly excited to see the book stairs and try the rose gelato, I used There She Goes Again handy dandy map because I almost walked by both locations since everything was so tucked away.

The village was formed in the 1920s when refugees from the Korean War relocated to the mountain village where houses are stacked beside each other tightly. By the mid 1950s, hundreds of families would add to the village’s growth. In 2009, a movement was made to renovate the village to draw visitors, and Gamcheon was soon transformed into a colorful rainbow village full of murals and local businesses found today. Since then Gamcheon Culture Village has become a must-see location when visiting Busan and the nearby regions.   

I first heard of Gamcheon Culture Village from travel bloggers and vloggers. It’s a popular spot for tourists and when I was planning the friend’s trip pre-covid it was on the list, however life had other plans and all my research and notes had to be shelved for another time, and after months and months I got to see it for myself. The village is literally on a mountain and a bit of a trek to get to. If you visit by bus you’ll wonder how the bus doesn’t fall over as it winds through all the right turns and passes other cars. An eventful ride that will be filled with elderly Koreans traveling home or other tourists trying to visit. 

When I was trying to leave I ended up having to make my way down the 148 stairs to the stars. Named because there’s so many you’ll be so dizzy and see stars. I had planned on skipping this part since I was recovering from a knee injury at the time, however it turned out that the stairs was the quickest way out from my location, so I began my trek down—hating most of it. (If you know me, I’m not a huge fan of stairs at all). 

But I made it out and was glad to get a chance to visit the colorful neighborhood on a hill.

Location: 203 Gamnae 2(i)-ro, Gamcheon 2(i)-dong, Saha-gu, Busan, South Korea.