During the weekdays that I spent in Busan, South Korea, I had time to myself until around 5 or so, when my friend Alex would get out of work. We’d come up with a train station exit to meet at, and before then, I would be free to roam Busan at my own leisure. Equipped with a map marked with circles and notes, I spent one of my days exploring the Nampo area.
The Lotte Department Store has a scenic viewpoint of the city. This is the view facing towards the city, and looking towards Busan Tower, a watchtower that I made my trek to later in the day. 
There are fences at these overviews where couples leave locks to symbolize their love. Often the locks have names, dates and hearts scrawled on them.
Bike lock heart – so cute!
View from the top of the Lotte Department Store, facing the sea.
There was also a “zoo” at the top of this department store. There were some pigs and bunnies.
It seemed wrong not to fill you in on that.
After this scouting, I headed towards Busan Tower. 
Busan citizens’ bell pavilion
Flower clock
(L) statue of General Lee Sunsin (R) Cheongdongyongtap, a statue of a bronze dragon.
Busan Tower is pictured above. The ornate building also pictured houses a museum of musical instruments.
View from Busan Tower overlooking the citizens’ bell pavilion, flower clock, and statue of General Lee Sunsin
View from Busan Tower looking towards the harbor
Men playing a game outside of Busan Tower. There were lots of old men playing this game in Yongdusan Park, where the tower is located.
There were also more love locks attached to fences and benches surrounding Busan Tower.
The picture above is a photo shout out to my sister and brother – 2/26 is our birthday. I love and miss them and was thinking of them when I took this.
After seeing the sights in Yongdusan Park, I took a trip farther north. I hopped in a cab, pointed at a spot on my map that read “Jung-ang Park,” and found myself on a scenic journey up some mountains. I hadn’t been in a car since my arrival to Japan in January, which was an odd realization for me to have.
Jung-ang (or Daecheong) Park turned out to be the location of the Monument to the Loyal Dead, a memorial to those that fought and died in the Korean War.
View from the top of Mount Daecheong
Just a few minutes away from this site is Minju Park Busan, also called Democracy Park.
There are many sculptures and monuments located at Democracy Park.
