Pusan

Pusan, South Korea: see Busan.

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Pusan

 or Busan

City (pop., 2003 est.: 3,747,369) and port, South Korea, at the southeastern tip of the Korean peninsula. Pusan was opened to Japanese trade in 1876 and to general foreign trade in 1883. It developed into a major port under Japanese rule (1910–45). It served as the country's temporary capital during the Korean War. Pusan is South Korea's largest port and second largest city. Administratively, it has the status of a metropolitan city equal to that of a province. Industries include shipbuilding and manufacturing. Hot springs are located in the northeastern suburbs.

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Pusan

a port in SE South Korea, on the Korea Strait: the second largest city and chief port of the country; industrial centre; two universities. Pop.: 3 527 000 (2005 est.)

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Pusan 

(also Fusan), a city and port in South Korea, on the Korea Strait; administratively equivalent to a province. Population, 1.9 million (1971). Important transportation junction. Pusan’s port, which has a convenient harbor, has the country’s largest freight turnover. The city is a major industrial center. There are textile, food, metallurgical, electrical-engineering, chemical, rubber, and machine-building (including shipbuilding) industries. The city also has fishing and salt-refining industries. A large steam power plant (more than 300 megawatts) is located in Pusan.

Pusan apparently arose in the first centuries of the Common Era as the settlement of Kaya (Karak). In the 15th century the city became an important fortress and was the center for trade between Japan and Korea. (Trade between the two countries was limited and sporadic in nature.) After Japan imposed the unjust Kanghwa Treaty on Korea in 1876, Pusan became the first open port, and Japanese merchants and private entrepreneurs settled there. Since 1925, Pusan has been the administrative center of Kyongsang-namdo Province. In the 1920’s and 1930’s the city developed into a major industrial center. It has played a prominent role in the workers’ and national liberation movements of the Korean people.