Haeundae Beach, a picturesque stretch of white sand in eastern Busan, is vital to the southern coastal city in that it operates as one of the biggest tourist destinations in Korea. Each summer, millions flock to the beach to soak up the sun, feast on succulent seafood and partake in a number of festivals and watersports.

The district’s landscape has undoubtedly changed over the years, but is more vibrant and dynamic than ever before, boasting a slew of natural, historical and contemporary tourist destinations.

Haeundae’s Most Loved Landmarks

Perhaps one of Haeundae’s most cherished landmarks is Dongbaek Island, which is actually now an extension of the mainland. Shrouded in dongbaek trees and evergreens, the small, lush island is an ideal place to be in the midst of Mother Nature herself.

Nurimaru APEC House (Image source: http://bit.ly/1EWMLWi)

Situated on the tip of Dongbaek Island is the Nurimaru APEC House, which was constructed in preparation for the 17th APEC summit in 2005 and has since become representative of Busan. The building’s roof was designed to complement the curves of the island on which it sits, and it offers impressive views of the district’s coastline.

Yonggungsa Temple (Image source: http://bit.ly/1QlqUM0)

On the opposite end of Haeundae lies Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, which was first built in 1376. This Buddhist temple is not only serene, but is extremely unique in that unlike most Korean temples, which are located in the mountains, it is set on a cliff overlooking the ocean. In addition to Buddha’s Birthday, when the temple is canopied in colorful lanterns, crowds flock here on New Year’s Day to watch the first sunrise of the year.

Another favorite Haeundae hotspot is the Sea Life Busan Aquarium, which is home to about 250 species and 35,000 marine animals. Children and adults of all ages enjoy the regularly scheduled activities and shows, and visitors can even have the chance to scuba dive with sharks in the main tank.

While these are the area’s most recognized destinations, another addition to Haeundae’s sandy shore is in the works and it promises to emerge as a representative landmark, contributing greatly to the area’s tourism industry.

A New Addition to Busan’s Best Beach

On April 17, POSCO E&C (CEO Tae-Hyun Hwang) signed a construction contract for a “Haeundae tourist resort city development project” with LCT PFV, the lead developer of the project, which will include a 101-story tower and two 85-story residential buildings, at an expected total cost of 2.7 trillion won.

The Landmark Tower Residence Hotel will consist of 561 standard units and 260 luxury units, and the two residential towers will accommodate 882 households. The complex will also be a one-stop-shop for all things lifestyle, complete with facilities for leisure, recreation, shopping and business.

POSCO E&C has been selected as the contractor for this project because of its brand value, construction capabilities and straightforward financing. Furthermore, POSCO E&C has a record of completing a number of large urban development projects, such as the Northeast Asia Trade Center in Songdo International City.

CEO Tae-hyun Hwang noted, “Through this project, POSCO E&C will prove its technical skills and construction abilities by perfectly constructing the complex, a future landmark of Busan. Also, we will use this as an opportunity to contribute to the development of the domestic construction business.”

So, the next time you’re in Haeundae enjoying all the wonderful things it has to offer, be sure not to miss any of its iconic destinations and catch a glimpse of the construction project that will most certainly be the city’s next representative landmark.

The POSCO Music Concert is returning on the third Saturday of each month starting in February 2014 with a more enriched program.

Since December 1999, leading Korean artists, including K-pop stars, have performed at the POSCO Music Concert. Even singer Psy made an appearance at the POSCO Center in July 2012 to perform his hit single “Gangnam Style”, as did popular K-pop singer, Ailee, last September. Marking 156 performances and over 140,000 cumulative attendees, the concert has positioned itself as Korea’s leading corporate sponsored music concert.

Buzzwords for 2014: ‘Opportunity’, ‘Passion’ and ‘Challenge’

With the purpose of bolstering social contributions, the three POSCO Music Concert keywords this year are ‘opportunity’, ‘passion’ and ‘challenge’. Unique to previous years that mainly focused on well-known pop artists, this year’s lineup brings together a collaboration of talented new artists and famous musicians. POSCO aims to create more opportunities to support up and coming artists to fulfill their dreams and also to provide a cultural arts space for the wider community.

2014 Performance Lineup

The 2014 POSCO Music Concert will offer a range of genres to listen to, from classical to ‘indie’ music, and even drum performances. Concerts will be held on the third Saturday of each month from February through December (with the exclusion of August) at the POSCO Center 1^st floor Atrium. Those wishing to attend the POSCO Music Concert can request invitations from the POSCO website (www.posco.co.kr).

• February: The concert in February focused on the theme of ‘Openness, opportunity opened for everybody’ and featured Huh Gak, Gayageum Maidens and Mister Pa Pa.
• March: Focuses on the theme of ‘high spirits’ and features the 10^th anniversary of Richard Yongjae ONeilll and representative K-classic violinist, Zi A Shin.
• April: Focuses on the theme of ‘Full bloom, music concert to spread out dreams and hope’ and features young musicians that attend music schools in Seoul and their role model, conductor Geum Nan Sae.
• May: Focuses on the theme of ‘Challenge’ and features two artists that make the impossible possible – Korean ‘Paul Potts’  Seungil Kim and Yejoon Suh.
• June: Focuses on the theme of ‘Laughing flowers, music with laughter’ and features the Hamburg String Orchestra.
• July: Focuses on the theme of “Endless Passion, POSCO Auditions for Indiebands” and features a diverse range of indie bands.
• September: Focuses on the theme of “Opera that opens the heart”.
• October: Focuses on the theme of ‘A very special outing’ and features world renown pianist Yuhki Kuramoto, perfect vocalist  Areum Lee and gifted pianist Sangwoo Lee.
• November: Focuses on the theme of ‘mutual understanding’ and features witty poet, Sangwook Ha and singer Sikyung Sung.
• December: Entitled the ‘Thank you Concert’, this concert concludes the 2014 lineup and features Youngnam Cho and vocalist ensemble Rotina.

Speaking with the Man Behind the Scenes

We had a chance to sit down with POSCO’s concert organizer, Seung-Kyu Yoon, to hear about his experiences and thoughts while planning the lineup for 2014.

Why does POSCO regularly hold concerts at the headquarter lobby?

I think the biggest reason behind POSCO holding these cultural music events is to make social contributions through sharing. POSCO is one of Korea’s most loved companies and as such POSCO feels that they should give back to the community as well. In addition to holding concerts at the lobby of POSCO’s headquarters, concerts and other cultural events are hosted in Pohang and Gwangyang as well.

What is the most memorable moment you’ve had while planning or managing POSCO concerts?

When you ask a chef ‘when do you feel most satisfaction?’, they will most likely say it is the moment when they see their guests enjoying the meal that they cooked. Along those same lines, as the organizer for POSCO concerts, I feel the most fulfillment when I see concert goers enjoy the performances or when I hear them say ‘that was really good, I am so happy to have had this opportunity’. It is those moments that make me feel that the hard work I put in was worthwhile.

Who has been the most popular performer so far?

Each concert receives a lot of praise but I must say that to date, the concert where Psy and Ailee performed were the more popular ones. The concert featuring Psy was especially exciting because he performed his world hit single, ‘Gangnam Style’ right inside POSCO Center. Many viewers actually even stood up to dance his signature horse dance!

What has been the main focus for you as you have planned the 2014 concerts?

While planning the 2014 concerts, I’ve kept in mind to do my best in everything that I do. The 2014 lineup is unique from past years in that we are moving the spotlight away from artists you may have seen a lot on TV or at major concert halls and instead focusing on musicians that are very talented but have not yet had the opportunity to really shine yet. POSCO is creating an opportunity for these up and coming artists to stand on the same stage with stars that they look up to as mentors. Through these experiences, it is our hope that these young artists can fulfill their dreams and move one step closer to realizing their full potential.

If you could sum up POSCO concerts in one word, what would it be?

I think ‘mutual understanding’ might be a fitting word. Since 1999, POSCO has organized concerts to create a space for communication and mutual understanding. I hope that you continue to show interest in the concerts that POSCO provides for the general public. Thank you!

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How to Enjoy POSCO Center during POSCO Concerts

Spend some time exploring the fun public spaces in POSCO center during your visit to POSCO concerts.

• Steel Gallery: A fun experimental space where you can learn the history of iron and its various uses.

• Aquarium: A 9 meter high aquarium that runs from the basement to the first floor. It contributes to a unique space in the urban area where people can interact with nature and enjoy the likes of sharks, napoleon fish, and 70 other kinds of sea life.

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