Huinnyeoul Culture Village is located on the beautiful cliffs of Yeongdo Island in Busan and offers the perfect fusion of artistic influences and peaceful coastal lifestyle. Frequently referred to as the “Santorini of Korea,” this coastal village is known for its white and pastel-colored houses, narrow lanes, and stunning ocean views.

Once an impoverished district where refugees settled during the Korean War, Huinnyeoul has seen a great change. In recent years the village has been transformed by local artists and the community into a cultural center. The walls are adorned with murals and street art, and there are now charming cafés, galleries and handicrafts shops along these steep, winding lanes.

A stroll through the village takes visitors to the Huinnyeoul Coastal Tunnel, a recently renovated walkway along the rocky shoreline that was built for military use. Today, the tunnel is a tranquil seaside walkway with sweeping vistas of the East Sea.

It’s the perfect harmonization of the old days and today that makes Huinnyeoul so special. Whereas the creative flourishes inject vitality into the section, the village maintains its historic heart. Locals still live in the centuries-old family homes – it’s a very authentic trip back in time.

Huinnyeoul Culture Village, Busan’s low-key get-away spot for slow travelers, and photographers, and people like us, those looking to see a different, less crowded side of Busan, is a chill place to hang out and explore. Wherever you are in this village, whether staring at the waves breaking against the rocks, sipping coffee with a sea view, it feels like a piece of coastal magic unlike anywhere else in Korea.