Located at 1-2, 2ga, Gwangbok-dong, Jung-gu of Busan, Mt. Yongdu Park had been thickly wooded with pine trees until it was transformed into the present park. The mountain had long been called Songhyeon-san (song in Chinese stands for pine trees) or Choryang-sosan. At an unspecified time, however, the name of the mountain came to be known as Yongdu-san (yongdu in Chinese means dragon head) since the mountain appears to be the head of a dragon as it soars up from the sea. Likewise, it is said that the location of the former city hall building in Jungang-dong looks like the dragon's tail. Therefore, the area became known as Yongmi-san (yongmi in Chinese stands for a dragon's tail).
Mt. Yongdu Park
By 1678 (the 4th year of King Sukjong), the whole area around the slopes of the mountain was leased out to Waegwan estate, which enjoyed thriving development until it was transformed into an exclusive Japanese residential district.
Sometime thereafter, the whole mountain area of some 12,000 pyong was designated a park district by the Busan autonomouse districts under Japanese colonial rule. Immediately upon liberation, the Japanese Shinto Shrine on the mountain was demolished.
Yongdusan art gallery, 2004 '
During the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, seemingly continuous streams of refugees converged onto the whole area of the mountain, and they built makeshift huts huddling all over the mountain slopes.
On December 10, 1954, a big mountain fire swept down most of the plank huts. Then there followed a continued forestation for sometime until the area transformed into the present park in 1957, with the name "Unam Park." This name bears the pseudonym of the late Syngman Rhee, the first president of our country.
However, in honor of the Student Uprising on April 19, 1960, which eventually toppled Syngman Rhee's regime, its name was changed to Yongdu-san Park with a total coverage of 69,000 m2.
The unique Busan Tower rises to a height of 120 m on a flat of 69 m above the sea level. The tower offers a stunning bird's eye view from its platform. Over the extension would emerge the lengthy traffic-laden streets of Busan and beautiful scenery. The roof of the tower is a replica of the top of the Dabotap Pagoda of Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju.
At the mountain's peak stands the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the hero of our nation who defended our country from the invading Japanese. Beside the statue, there is a flower clock. There is also a monumental tower near the statue that was constructed in commemoration of those who sacrificed for the cause of democracy on April 19, 1960.
In December 1997, thanks to donations from Busan citizens, a great bell was set up on the mountain peak bearing the name, "The Bell of Busan Citizens." The bell rings on four important occasions every year, including New Year's Eve.
Mt. Yongdu used to be covered with thick pine forests. However, it is now a dense forest with more than 70 different kinds of trees, including ginkgo trees. This mountain park would no doubt provide excellent hiking trails as well as spacious rest areas to citizens. We proudly recommend this park as an excellent sightseeing attraction to foreign tourists.
Visitors can arrive here by the number 1 subway line, stopping at Nampo-dong station.
1, Daecheong-dong 1-ga, Jung-gu, Busan, Korea (051)600-4092~8 / (051)600-4099 E-mail : webmaster@bsjunggu.go.kr Copyright(c)JungGu Busan, All Rights reserved.
Culture/tourism
Park
(051)600-4092~8 / 
(051)600-4099 
E-mail : webmaster@bsjunggu.go.kr Copyright(c)JungGu Busan, All Rights reserved.