Travel
What’s on in Busan this weekend: August 8-10
Haps Magazine Korea
August 7, 2025
(Photo courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)
Check out what’s going on around the city this weekend in Busan.
Check out our new video version of What’s On In Busan This Weekend, which gives you a 90-second update of the top stories and events going on each week in Busan, as well as on Monday with our What’s On In Busan each week. Please consider subscribing to our YouTube channel so you can keep up-to-date on what’s happening around the city.
YouTube: What’s on in Busan This Weekend: August 9-11
WEATHER FORECAST
(Image; Accuweather)
MUSIC
Millak Waterside Music Festa @ Millak Waterside Park — Suyeong District will continue its regular “Millak Waterside Music Festa” performances in August, part of a seasonal series running every Saturday evening from May through September. Millak Waterside Park, Suyeong-gu, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Forestella @ BEXCO Auditorium — The popular quartet return to Busan as part of their “The Wave” tour. BEXCO Auditorium, Centum City, Saturday and Sunday
Live Music @ Ol’55 — Open stage events take place every Friday and Saturday night. Ol’55, KSU, Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.
OTHER STUFF
EVENTS
Busan International Buddhist Expo @ BEXCO — This year’s edition is expected to be double in scale to previous editions. BEXCO, Centum City, Through Sunday
Clown Theater Festival @ Gwangalli Beach –This beloved summer tradition returns for three nights of free outdoor performances under the theme “Harmony and Peace.” Gwangalli Beach, Friday through Sunday
Busan Nail Festa @ BEXCO — Check out the latest trends in nail art. BEXCO, Centum City, Friday through Sunday
Busan Illustrator Festa @ BEXCO — This is a comprehensive event where you can enjoy performances by subculture musicians and cosplay, along with a creator market where you can find original books and fancy goods from amateur and professional writers. BEXCO, Centum City, Saturday and Sunday
Busan Buk-gu Downtown Water Park @ Waseok Park and Hayanmaeum Park — Kids can cool down at two water parks in Buk-gu. Waseok Park and Hayanmaeum Park, Buk-gu, Through August 31
Pokémon Capsule Station in Busan @ Lotte Department Store Main Branch — The event transforms not only the department store but also key areas of the city into Pokémon-themed zones. Lotte Department Store Main Branch, Seomyeon, Though August 17
Aladdin @ Busan Dream Theatre — As the first Korean staging of Aladdin, the production is expected to introduce Busan audiences to this beloved musical in a grand new presentation setting over the summer. Dream Theatre, Busanjin-gu, Through September 28
Beach Season Opening — All seven beaches open for summer operations on Tuesday. Through August 31
Haeundae Festa @ Haeundae Beach – A summer’s worth of activities are taking place at the beach until the end of August. Haeundae Beach, Through August 31
Gwangalli Character Zone @ Gwangalli Beach — Popular Kakao characters Ryan and Chunsik take part at the “Friends Tour IN Gwangalli” pop-up. Gwangalli Beach, Through August 31
Dadaepo Sunset Fountain of Dreams Music Show @ Dadaepo Sunset Fountain of Dreams — The fountain show is back for another year of excitement. Daily except for Monday, Dadaepo, 8 p.m.
Gwangalli M Drone Light Show @ Gwangalli Beach — The drone show resumes its regular schedule this week. Gwangalli Beach, Saturday, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
International Meet-up @ Cafe With — Join a new language exchange and culture program each Friday night. Cafe With, Kyungsung University, Friday, 7 p.m.
CULTURE
Hilma af Klint: Proper Summons @ Busan Museum of Contemporary Art Gallery 5 — Enjoy a collection of 140 works, including paintings, drawings, videos, and archival materials. Busan Museum of Contemporary Art Gallery 5, Through October 26
Flag Waving @ Hongti Art Village – A two-person exhibition by Kang Si-ra and Jo Min-ji that reflects intersecting narratives of emotion, existence, and language. Hongti Art Village, Saha-gu, Through August 19
Essential @ Ezeli – Chris Miso’s solo exhibition uses animal figures to explore labor and human value in the post-pandemic era. Ezeli, Suyeong-gu, Through August 23
Rooms of the Cocoon @ Space Topping – Yun Pil-hyun’s solo show presents layered canvases revealing a hermit’s complex inner world. Space Topping, Haeundae-gu, Through August 10
Summer Story Exhibition @ Bakery Cafe Gawon – Featuring three artists, this exhibition evokes forgotten emotions and quiet summer memories. Bakery Cafe Gawon, Nam-gu, Through September 29
Topography of Labor – 12 Scenes @ Busan Museum of Modern Art – Eunbi Kwon’s installation explores invisible and peripheral labor through moving sculptures. Busan Museum of Modern Art, Saha-gu, Through October 19
Fun Sory @ Ewell Gallery – Ryu Dong-pil’s work blends urban life and cartoon aesthetics through dual-faced characters and robot metaphors. Ewell Gallery, Suyeong-gu, Through August 8
Ideal Phenomenon @ Asti Gallery – Lim In-gu’s exhibition examines capitalism and longing through his symbolic “Gold Bar” series. Asti Gallery, Dong-gu, Through August 31
FLOATING: THE OCEAN @ Gallery Haas – A multi-artist show exploring boundaries and the sense of water through diverse media. Gallery Haas, Haeundae-gu, Through September 2
The Blooming Tale @ Lotus Gallery – Lee Ki-taek’s paintings use nature and fairy tale imagery to explore imagination and nostalgia. Lotus Gallery, Haeundae-gu, Through August 30
Kim Dae-yoon Retrospective @ Picasso Gallery – A major retrospective of late artist Kim Dae-yoon’s vibrant depictions of everyday Busan life. Picasso Gallery, Haeundae-gu, Through August 31
Kariya Miki Invitational @ Maison de Karin – Fantastical yet familiar images explore childhood memories, emotion, and Japanese kawaii aesthetics. Maison de Karin, Haeundae-gu, Through August 31
Everyday Happiness @ Busan Police Agency Gallery – Myung Chae-kyung’s paintings reflect joy in daily moments and the memories they create. Busan Police Agency Gallery, Yeonje-gu, Through August 31
The Moment Between @ Gallery Playlist – Kim Yeon-su and Park Se-bin examine fleeting intersections between vitality and stillness. Gallery Playlist, Jung-gu, Through September 13
If the Time Comes When You Ask If You’ve Eaten @ Space Sail – Lee Hyeong-sa’s personal drawings reflect familial love and cycles of emotion. Space Sail, Jung-gu, Through August 29
Beom and Chu @ Open Space Bae & Annyeong Artist – Artists explore faith, doubt, and illusion through conceptual forms and experimental works. Open Space Bae & Annyeong Artist, Jung-gu, Through August 31
Busan Contemporary and Young Artists Exhibition @ Geumjeong Cultural Center – A cross-generational exhibition fostering dialogue between veteran and emerging artists. Geumjeong Cultural Center, Geumjeong-gu, Through August 10
To Stand on This Land @ Gallery Woo – Han Chung-seok’s show explores a child’s journey to regain identity and belonging. Gallery Woo, Gijang-gun, Through August 23
Korean-Chinese Calligraphy Exchange @ Busan City Hall – Over 100 artworks explore shared traditions and creative reinterpretations of calligraphy and painting. Busan City Hall, Yeonje-gu, August 11–16
Mita Artist Invitational @ Gallery T (Lotte Department Store) – Known for shark imagery, Mita reinterprets fear into positive, vibrant iconography. Gallery T, Busanjin-gu, Through September 1
Return @ National Museum of Forced Mobilization – Commemorating Korea’s liberation, this exhibition tells stories of repatriated forced laborers. National Museum of Forced Mobilization, Nam-gu, August 12–October 31
The Comma Gaze @ Vitree Gallery – Summer’s solo show explores femininity, identity, and inner emotion through “comma-eyed” portraits. Vitree Gallery, Suyeong-gu, Through August 30
Footprints of Liberation: Walking That Day @ Busan Museum — This exhibition highlights the various movements for independence that took place in Busan during the Japanese colonial period and the historical role that Beomeosa Temple played at the center of them. Busan Museum, Nam-gu, Through August 15
Seeing with Ten Fingers @ Busan Museum of Contemporary Art — Featuring the works of 20 multidisciplinary artists from Korea and abroad, the exhibition showcases over 70 synesthetic works. Busan Museum of Contemporary Art, Through September 7
Re-cheop, Busan Incubate 2025 Special Exhibition @ Busan Fishing Village Folk Museum –A special exhibition showcasing the history and culture of Busan’s now-vanished jaecheop (freshwater clam) fishing and peddling traditions through artifacts, photos, and oral history. Busan Fishing Village Folk Museum, Buk-gu, Through December 21
GAYA+TOON @ Bokcheon Museum — The exhibition features the winning works from the Gaya Webtoon & Illustration Contest held by the National Gimhae Museum. Bokcheon Museum, Dongnae-gu, Through August 10
A Tale of Two Cities @ GoEun Museum of Photography — Featured participants include Italian artist Pablo Ventura, who was the museum’s first overseas guest in 2019, and Josef Schulz. GoEun Museum of Photography, Haeundae, Through August 8
Arte Museum Busan — The exhibition features 19 works themed ‘CIRCLE’, highlighting the natural and cultural elements of Busan. Arte Museum Busan, Yeongdo-gu, Ongoing
Sawadee @ Sasang Life History Museum — 437 real items, including traditional Thai costumes, are on display. Sasang Life History Museum, Through November
SPORTS
Incheon vs. Busan IPark @ Gudeok Stadium — The IPark look to turn around their form against Incheon. Gudeok Stadium, Saturday, 7 p.m.
SSG vs. Lotte @ Sajik Stadium — The Giants enter a crucial three-game series with SSG. Sajik Stadium, Sajik-dong, Friday 6:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 6 p.m.
Please note that some events may be postponed or canceled around the city. While we do strive for accuracy, some events may change their operating times and days.