Nurimaru APEC House was built to host 2005 APEC Summit meeting at the tip of Dongbaek Island (동백섬), which laid out near Haeundae Beach. This eye-catching glassy building has become 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 – Dongbaek station (동백/204), Exit 1 > about 20-min walk (1.3 km or 0.8 mile)
Bus: No. 139, 307, or 1003 at Dongbaekseom Ipgu bus stop (동백섬입구)
Parking
Dongbaek Park (paid public parking lot)
*Parking at Dongbaek Island is limited and fills 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
(Information in this post is based on a visit in 2019 February.)
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 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit. The place is open to 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, The Building
The architecture of Nurimaru is a great example of combination of the modern design and traditional Korean style. The design of building resembles traditional Korean pavilion called “Jeongja (정자)” and the shape of roof borrows the ridgeline of Dongbaek Island.
Nurimaru is 3 stories tall.
1st floor: Jayumadang (Freedom Garden) and Pyeonghwamadang (Peace Garden). These outdoor gardens and walking paths are used for cocktail parties, outdoor exhibits and performances while the place hosts events.
2nd floor: Conference rooms for major events such as international conferences, banquets, and more.
3rd floor: The main conference room where the 2005 APEC leaders had a meeting. This conference room is preserved as it was in 2005 and open to public. The APEC Memorial is also located on the third floor. The Memorial exhibits information about the member economies and other items including a replica of meal served to the leaders during the summit.
There are a couple of 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.
Don’t miss the interior design of the place as well. For instance, the wall at waiting room is decorated with Hangul (한글), Korean alphabet, from Hunminjeongeum (훈민정음), a document that symbolizes creation of Hangul. A huge painting at the lobby in the traditional Korean style is also photogenic.
Photo spots at Nurimaru
Because its priceless location, Nurimaru offers breathtaking views and amazing photo spots. You can see the whole length of Gwanga Bridge that stretches over Gwangalli beach. The picturesque lighthouse over a jeongja, 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 can’t miss.
Attractions Nearby
Nurimaru APEC House is located at Dongbaek Island right next to Haeundae Beach. You can take a walk absorbing fresh ocean breeze around Dongbaek Island and the trail leads to Haeundae Beach.
In addition, Marine City, the famous skyline of Busan, is within a short walking distance. The night view of Marine City from The Bay 101, a restaurant complex located at the entrance of Dongbaek Island, is a spot for your Social Media feed.