Gamcheon Culture Village, Art village in Saha District, Busan, South Korea
Gamcheon Culture Village is a neighborhood built along a hillside in Busan where colorful houses stack against each other. A system of narrow lanes and staircases connects different levels, creating passages that wind between the structures.
The settlement started in the 1920s when authorities moved workers from the port area to this hillside location. Over time, this working-class neighborhood transformed as artists began painting buildings and transforming the space.
Residents work together with artists to paint houses and create sculptures throughout the neighborhood. This collaboration turns the village into a living gallery where creativity shapes how people experience their surroundings.
The village is accessible by public transit and has visitor information centers. Wear comfortable shoes as the narrow staircases and sloping pathways require good footing throughout the area.
More than 140 staircases are decorated with painted stars that guide visitors through the lanes. Multiple observation points provide views across the colored rooftops and surrounding landscape.
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