40-step stairway

The 40-step stairway is a stone structure in Jungang that connects the port area to residential neighborhoods above. It measures about 25 meters in length and consists of forty individual steps built to create this passage.

The stairway was built between 1909 and 1912 during Japanese colonial rule as a transportation connection. It later became a gathering place where families separated during the Korean War would try to reunite.

The stairway holds an exhibition center with photographs and objects showing how people lived during the Korean War refugee crisis of the 1950s. Visitors walking through can see these items and understand the stories of families who gathered in this location.

You can reach the steps easily through exit 11 of Jungang Station on Metro Line 1. The site stays open throughout the year, making it accessible regardless of the season.

Musicians playing accordions perform regularly on these steps, keeping alive a tradition that started when war refugees gathered here in the 1950s. This musical presence connects the past to what visitors experience today.

Location: Busan

GPS coordinates: 35.10390,129.03450

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:40