Gamcheon Culture Village

Gamcheon Culture Village (Korean: 감천문화마을; Hanja: 甘川文化마을) is a town of Gamcheon-dong, Saha District, Busan, South Korea. The area is known for its steep streets, twisting alleys, and brightly painted houses, which have been restored and enhanced in recent years to attract tourism.[1] In order for the village to be reborn as a cultural hub, the Saha District received funding from various government offices for the purpose of urban regeneration. After painting its walls with a fresh coat of paint and placing works of arts throughout the area, the village was given its new name. The renovation efforts reached their peak with the success of the “Empty House Residency Preservation Project.” The village has been reborn as Busan's most colorful and artistic spot.[2]

Gamcheon Culture Village

The Village was built during the 1920s and 30s, when Busan's city administration decided to relocate its poor Korean population from the hillside into an area that was not visible to the port, but local enough to provide labor. [3] By brightly painting their houses, the residence have turned the village into one of the most featured tourist attractions in Busan. [4] Because it was built on such a steep mountain-side slope, the Village has been nicknamed the "Machu Picchu of Busan".[5]