Nurimaru APEC House was built to host the 2005 APEC Summit meeting at the tip of Dongbaek Island (동백섬), which stands near Haeundae Beach. This eye-catching glassy building has been one of Busan’s symbolic places since then.
Location
116, Dongbaek-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
Hours
9:00 am ~ 6:00 pm (Last admission 1 hour before closing) *Closed the first Monday of the month
Admission
Free
Directions
Subway: Line 2 (Green Line), Get off at Dongbaek station (동백/204), Exit 1 > about 20-min walk (1.3 km or 0.8 miles)
Bus: No. 139, 307, or 1003, Get off at Dongbaekseom Ipgu bus stop (동백섬입구)
Parking
Dongbaek Park (paid public parking lot)
*Parking spaces at Dongbaek Island are limited and fill up quickly especially during weekends and holidays so the use of public transportation is strongly encouraged.
Contact
Call: +82 051-743-1974 or 1975
Website: City of Busan
In 2005, Busan hosted APEC Summit, and leaders from 21 member economies came to Nurimaru to meet together. ‘Nuri’ is a Korean word meaning the world and ‘Maru’ means the summit. Thus, the name ‘Nurimaru’ means ‘the house where world leaders gathered.’
The facility also held the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit. The place is open to the public and still used for other major meetings.
*APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation)
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum established to create greater prosperity of 21 members in the Pacific Rim by integrating regional economies.
21 member economies include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.
Nurimaru APEC House, The Building
The architecture of Nurimaru is a great example of the combination of modern design and traditional Korean style. The design of the building resembles a traditional Korean pavilion called “Jeongja (정자)” and the ridgeline of Dongbaek Island is the inspiration for the shape of the roof.
Nurimaru APEC House is a three-story building. Let’s take a quick tour of each floor:
There are two outdoor gardens on the ground level, Jayumadang (Freedom Garden) and Pyeonghwamadang (Peace Garden). During the events, participants have cocktail parties and outdoor exhibits in these gardens. In addition, artists or entertainers show performances here, too.
Conference rooms for major events are on the second floor. These rooms hold International conferences, banquets, and more events.
The main conference room where the 2005 APEC leaders had a meeting sits on the top floor. This conference room is open to the public and preserved as it was in 2005. You can visit the APEC Memorial on the same floor. The Memorial exhibits information about the member economies and the items including a replica of meals served to the leaders during the summit.
There are two entrances to Nurimaru APEC House. You can enter the building from the gardens at the ground level or through the main entrance on the third floor.
While you walk through each chamber, it would be fun to pay attention to the interior design of Nurimaru. For instance, the wall at the waiting room is decorated with Hangul (한글), the Korean alphabet, from Hunminjeongeum (훈민정음), a document that symbolizes the creation of Hangul. A huge painting at the lobby in the traditional Korean style is also photogenic.
Photo spots at Nurimaru APEC House
Because of its priceless location, Nurimaru APEC House offers breathtaking views and amazing photo spots. You can see the whole length of Gwanga Bridge that stretches over Gwangalli beach from Nurimaru. The picturesque lighthouse over a jeongja, a traditional Korean pavilion, is a unique photo spot as well. If your schedule allows, the night view of Nurimaru and the view from it are ones you don’t want to miss.
Attractions Nearby Nurimaru APEC House
Nurimaru APEC House is located on Dongbaek Island and Haeundae Beach is right at the doorstep. You can take an easy walk while breathing in the fresh ocean breeze around Dongbaekseom Island and the trail leads to Haeundae Beach.
In addition, Marine City, the famous skyline of Busan, is within a short walking distance as well. The night view of Marine City from The Bay 101, a restaurant complex located at the entrance of Dongbaek Island, is the spot where you need to take a picture for your Instagram Feed.
Read the next post and keep your tour on Dongbaekseom Island (동백섬). or read the post about Haeundae Beach and X the Sky.