13 Best Places to Shop in Busan, South Korea

\"Come! See! Buy!\" This is the official motto of Korea's largest fish market, and no trip to Busan would be complete without a stroll down its thrumming concourse, where superfresh seafood of all types is splayed out in all of its scaly, tentacled glory. While the sleek, new raw-fish center is distinctive, with glass paneling and a roof designed to look like seagulls, the surrounding streets will give you a better idea of the workings of the market, which are as old-school Busan as it gets.

Find everything from stationary, toiletries, bags, and even furniture, in a variety of colorful, character adorned forms. This is an ideal place to pick up a unique, Korean-designed souvenir.

Separated from the more famous Gukje complex by just one street, this colossal covered market specializes in imported goods and best of all, loads of great food stalls. To really get into the spirit of things, sit down at a plastic stool and dive into a bowl of guksu (thin noodles) or some of Busan's best bindaeddeok (mung bean pancake). And don't forget to wash it all down with a fresh bottle of makgeolli (rice wine). Bupyeong is the site of the city's only proper night market as well, running every day until 11:30 pm.

Situated in an alley right off the main Haeundae drag, this popular street market can get a bit touristy, but it's also home to old-school vendors who were there long before the crowds came. It's most famous for its restaurants and food stalls featuring clams, squid, raw fish, grilled eel, and all other manner of sea life, along with mountains of deep-fried snacks known as twigim. 

This 24-hour Korean supermarket chain has branches all over Korea and carries cheap cosmetics and just about anything else that you could possibly want at two in the morning. They claim to stock more than 30,000 products, including handy travel essentials like adapters and suitcases.

Busan's most sprawling market sells everything from clothes and jewelry to bowls of steaming noodles and bean porridge. It's hard to know where the various market buildings begin and end, and when Gukje Market becomes Bupyeong Kkangtong Market. What is certain is the lively atmosphere and great eats such as dangmyeon (glass noodles) and chungmu gimbap (seaweed rice rolls with spicy radish) served up on Gukje's famous food street. The market was also the setting for the 2014 hit Korean film, Ode to My Father.

Operating thirteen branches nationwide, Hyundai's Busan branch opened in 1995 and is centrally located in Beomil. The emphasis is on luxury brands, cosmetics, and shopping—an experience with plenty of staff on hand to assist. Interestingly there is a whole floor of the car park dedicated to female drivers. If you are coming by subway however, Hyundai Department Store can be accessed directly from Beomil-dong station through exit 7.

This secondhand store stocks a range of vintage finds at reasonable prices. Located near Kyungsung and Pukyung, the neighborhood is dotted with funky boutiques selling vintage clothes and items by young designers.

A newer addition to the busy shopping area of Nampo-dong, Lotte's is the place to find major international chains, such as Zara and Japanese giant Uniqlo. Youngpoong Bookstore on the 5th floor has a selection of English-language books for adults and children, but the real highlights are the 360-degree views from the 11th-floor Sky Park and 12th-floor Observation Deck.

This modern, hangar-like complex is home to restaurants, bars, cafés, and boutique shops. Shoppers can bring their food and drink to the terraced seating area that overlooks the local fishing harbor and the gleaming Gwangan Bridge. At night, the front of the complex transforms into one big watering hole, with young people downing booze and food at one of dozens of temporary tables.

In the streets running from Nampo-dong Station to Jagalchi Station and PIFF (Pusan International Film Festival) Square, you'll find hundreds of shops aimed at upwardly mobile twenty-somethings and students. Places to look out for include the major Korean cosmetics chain "The Face Shop" and Japanese discount chain "Daiso." Christmas shopping fever hits Nampo-dong in December with many couples coming out in matching outfits to view the elaborate lighting displays. However it is in October that the area really comes to life with many film festival events being centered around BIFF Square. You can grab a "Hotteok" pancake filled with cinnamon and peanuts from a street vendor in the square; it's only W900 so drop W1000 in the bucket, grab your change and enjoy. Nampo-dong or Jagalchi Stations.

The Kyungsung University and Pukyong University branch of the popular Korean beauty products chain sells a variety of creams, cosmetics, perfumes, and more. 

In 2009, Shinsegae lifted the title of world's largest department store from Macy's in New York. At 3.16 million square feet, this mammoth store has a year-round ice-skating rink, a natural hot-springs resort, and the usual international brands like GAP and Nike. There are also 60 luxury boutiques, with brands including Hérmes, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton. Visit the ninth-floor roof garden for fresh air and impressive city views.