Huin-yeoul Coastal Tunnel

Huinnyeoul-gil was named after how 'the water stream starting from Bongnaesan Mountain and rapidly winding down into the sea looks like white snow falling.' When looking at the path from an alley, you'll find houses nestled under a steep hillside, bringing to mind thoughts of Santorini, Greece. Recently, it has become a popular filming location for movies and TV series such as 'The Attorney,' 'Nameless Gangster,' and 'Crossing Yeongdo Bridge.' The Yeongdo-gu Office remodeled empty houses in the village near Dongshin Apartment into art workshops, allowing local artists to use the spaces. At the village entrance, on the way to Jeoryeong-ro where buses pass, there is a storytelling map and information sign about the Huinnyeoul Culture Village. You can enjoy the peaceful scenery where relaxed street cats and homeless dogs patrol the alleyway. You might also hear some people calling the mountain 'Gogalsan,' meaning 'a mountain whose water has completely dried up.' This misleading name was given during the Japanese colonial era with the purpose of degrading Korean people’s pride. Despite this misleading naming, Bongnaesan boasts a rich body of water running through it. It is famous for offering many mineral springs that produce easily accessible natural water. Hikers can quench their thirst even if they haven’t brought their own bottles. By calling this area 'a village where water falls and crashes in white,' perhaps the people of the village had a hidden desire to strike back in their own way for the country's stolen history.

‘The Attorney’ is a film based on a true story and holds the distinction of being the 9th movie in Korean cinema history to attract over 10 million moviegoers. As you walk along Huinnyeoul-gil, you’ll see the Jeonin Gajok Research Institute, known as a vacation villa. A bit further down the road, you'll reach the very location where The Attorney was filmed. Your first encounter will likely be with a wall bearing the famous line from the movie: This makes no sense! This is wrong. I'll do it! I'll be the attorney! This impassioned declaration was made by Attorney Song as he resolved to defend Jinwoo during the trials under the military dictatorship. Continuing along the road past this wall will lead you to the actual filming location of the movie.

If you continue along the road, following the laundry pieces hung on the walls facing the cliff, you'll eventually reach Isongdo Observatory. Here, you can bask in the stunning views of Songdo from the opposite side. On clear days, you may even catch a glimpse of Tsushima Island. This spot is also perfect for taking in the breathtaking vistas of nearby islands, such as Jujeonja, Mokdo, and Hyeongjedo Islands, making it an ideal location for capturing memorable photographs. Among the many islands in this area, Jujeonja Island holds a special significance as it is considered sacred. When you visit, keep in mind the three taboos: refrain from making fires and falling in love. Additionally, don't forget to plan a visit to Isongdo Observatory yourself; it's an experience you won't want to miss.

As you arrive at Huinnyeol Jeomppang, you’ll be able to see people sitting alongside the wall, facing the sea, eating ramen from the yellow nickel-silver pots - no matter if the weather is scorching hot or freezing cold. Not a bakery, nor a fortune-teller’s shop… it’s a “jeomppang.” Now, you may be wondering about the unfamiliar word.” Even in Korean, “jeomppang” has a quite unique pronunciation to it. It’s from Gyeongsang-do dialect that refers to “a small store in the neighborhood.” Sadly, the actual type of “stores” mentioned here is not easily found these days, due to the large franchise markets dominating over the streets. However, here in Huinnyeoul Jeomppang, you can experience how they used to serve the neighborhood as a lovely gathering spot. The neighborhood’s name being Huinnyeoul Village, instead of following what the conventional Korean naming suggests, was intended by the residents. “Huinn” means white, and “yeoul” means a rapid, or a section of weather with a strong current caused by its shallowness or narrowness. The water that originates in Bongnaesan Mountain behind the village first flows along a narrow waterway. Upon reaching the village, the water falls into the seas, creating white foam when hitting the surface. While you take a trip around the village, Huinnyeoul Jeomppang will be a perfect spot for you to take a breath.

Below the path of Huinnyeoul Road, there is the Jeoryoung Coastal Trail, offering abundant relaxation to visitors. Above the trail, there is Jeryoung-ro, a bustling road fuelling the local’s daily lives. Within Huinnyeoul Village, these three parallel roads connect via numerous staircases, linking the upper and lower sections of the village. From the Matmeori Stairs marking the village's entrance to the seven-twist Rainbow Stairs and the melodious Piano Stairs played by crashing waves, a variety of staircases differ in length, shapes, and names. One such set, the Kkomakjip Stairs, derives its name from being overlooked by the ‘Kkomakjip’ atop. The ‘Kkomakjip’ facing the sea, appears as a diminutive wall, its ends seemingly touchable by outstretched arms. Once a standalone house, this wall now integrates into a neighbouring dwelling. Initially housing a childless elderly couple, the community respectfully dubbed them ‘Kkomakjip Grandma’ and ‘Kkomakjip Grandpa.’ This moniker persists, memorializing the couple even after their departure. These quaint residences cluster tightly along the seaside cliffs, earning Huinnyeoul Village the nickname 'Santorini of Busan.' However, behind this serene facade lies a history of hardship. In the aftermath of the war in the 1950s, waves of refugees migrated southward, settling in Yeongdo, the southern tip of Busan. These individuals, seeking a mere patch of land, erected shacks from the beach to the hillsides. In September 1959, as they began to find solace in their new abodes, 'Sarah,' the most catastrophic typhoon recorded in Korean history, ravaged the city. Their meager belongings were swept away, just as they were preparing for Chuseok, yearning for their distant families. Despite this tragedy, they persevered with unwavering determination. Standing on the staircase midpoint, flanking cliffs reveal an embankment reminiscent of a fortress. Strengthened by rocks, reinforced with rebars and concrete, a resilient house stands, seemingly impervious to life's tempests. Over time, unintended growths of grass and trees sprout from the embankment's crevices, remnants of fruit trees that once flourished in now-vanished village homes. Peaches, plums, jujubes, persimmons, and pears once nurtured in these houses - their yearly fruiting stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the villagers who faced adversity.