The Nurimaru APEC House is a hiking destination west of Busan. This eye-catching round building sparkles with the sun reflected off its glass. It’s located at the tip of the forested peninsula near Haeundae Beach. Take a leisurely walk to the facility to enjoy a browse through its museum as well as views of Gwangan Bridge and Busan.
Nurimaru House was built to host APEC, or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, in 2005. This yearly trade meeting included 21 Pacific nations such as South Korea, Australia and the U.S.
Explore this house that now serves as a museum for the meeting. The space covers 3,000-square-metres (32,000-square-feet). See the round table, a central point in a large auditorium where ambassadors and negotiators from each country sat. You can even see an example of one of the meals served at the meeting.
Look for the 6.6-meter (21.6-foot) piece of lacquer work at the third floor entrance that has been decorated with mother-of-pearl. This artwork is marked with the 12 symbols of longevity such as sun, cloud, crane, deer, bamboo and turtle.
Explore the surrounding coastland of Dongbaekseom Island. At low tide, rock pools form between the building and the ocean. Wander the dry spaces between and spot darting fish and crabs. For a longer walk, explore the paths that wind through the surrounding forest and cross a long rope bridge over the water.
Venture east of Nurimaru APEC House to the peninsula’s lighthouse there is no fee to climb to the top. The viewing platform provides spectacular views of the beach, Dalmaji Hill and Busan.
Nurimaru APEC House can be reached by bus or train followed by a short walk. Drivers can also access the house with a parking lot provided on the northwest side of the peninsula. From here it’s a short hike through the forest but the scenic walk is well worth the trip. There’s no fee to enter Nurimaru APEC House.
