Here is what’s going on around the city this week.

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What’s on in Busan: August 4-August 10

Events Happening

Music

Kim Sae-hyeon Piano Recital @ Busan Concert Hall — The popular pianist performs a Tuesday evening concert. Busan Concert Hall, Busanjin-gu, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.

Paik Hae-sun @ Busan Concert Hall — The highly anticipated piano recital featuring Paik Hae-sun takes place this Thursday evening. Busan Concert Hall, Busanjin-gu, Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

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

Open Mic @ Basement — Head on out to hear some live local talent in PNU. Basement, PNU, Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Open Mic @ Ol’55 — Open mic returns to Ol’55 each Wednesday evening. Ol’55, KSU, Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Other stuff

Busan International Buddhist Expo @ BEXCO — This year’s edition is expected to be double in scale to previous editions. BEXCO, Centum City, Saturday

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

Dadaepo Sunset Film Festival @ Dadaepo Beach — The iconic sunset features in the backdrop of this three day film festival. Dadaepo Beach, Friday through Sunday

North Port SUP FESTA 2025 @ North Port Waterfront Park — Highlights include SUP experiences, water bike rides, kids’ splash zone, and more. North Port Waterfront Park, Through August 6

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, July 19–October 26

Brise-Soleil and Rounded Corners: Art Deco and Modernist Architecture in Southeast Asia Today @ ASEAN Culture House — The event aims to understand the background of the formation of major ASEAN cities through modern and contemporary architectural heritage. ASEAN Culture House, Haeundae-gu, Through November 9

Steidl Book Culture Magic On Paper @ Domoheon — This cross-genre archival exhibition illuminates the multifaceted world of Gerhard Steidl, the renowned German publisher of photography and art books. Domoheon Multipurpose Room, Suyeong-gu, Through December 7

Urban Resistence @ Arise Art Space — Featuring works by seven international and local artists, the exhibition examines the challenges of contemporary urban life and the idea of resistance in the face of ongoing transformation. Arise Art Space, Suyeong-gu, Through August 2

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, July 19–October 26

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

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

Seeing Fragrant Sounds @ Baekyang Hall – A Buddhist artists’ exhibition featuring 27 artists across Korean painting, Western painting, and lacquerware. Baekyang Hall, Busanjin-gu, Through August 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

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.

Free Outdoor Theater @ Busan Cinema Center — The free outdoor theater season returns for another year on select Tuesdays. Busan Cinema Center, Centum City, Tuesday 8 p.m.

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

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

Sawadee Thailand @ Sasang Life History Museum — 437 cultural items from the Land of Smiles are on display. Sasang Life History Museum, Through November

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

Gwangalli M Drone Light Show @ Gwangalli Beach — This week’s drone show returns to its regular schedule. Gwangalli Beach, Saturday, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Trivia @ HQ — The weekly trivia night changes back to Wednesday nights. HQ Bar, Gwangalli, Wednesday, 9 p.m.

Gorilla Running Club @ Gorilla Beach — Runners depart together from Gorilla’s new Haeundae location towards Gwangalli. Gorilla Beach, Haeundae, Monday

Fleet Chinhae

USAG Daegu