[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] Democratic Park

 A sudden outing decided by the word, “want to go to play” while chatting with friends that I haven’t seen in a long time. The destination was Joongang Park. With the title of it being the day after the 60^th anniversary of the 6.25 war, and that June with the ‘June strife’ is coming to an end, we went off.

 The Joongang Park is located in the Daecheong Mountain, so it had the name Daecheong Park, but it has been changed to Joongang Park now. Since it is located high on the mountain, it shows off its views of the sea, Busan harbor and the Gwangan Bridge faraway. But you don’t need to worry about an arduous hiking. The intra-city bus no. 38 and 43 go up to the entrance of the park, so you can enjoy this place more comfortably.

The loyal dead tower which was organized neatly stood turning its back to the blue sky. The Taegeukgi(Korean flag) flying besides is somehow impressive. In the empty lot before climbing the loyal dead tower, there are photos of the 6.25 war displayed. There are two ways to go up the loyal dead tower. You can climb the stone stairs devoutly and quietly, and you can also take the ‘elevator’ that is on the left. ‘What is this, a cable car?’ I went with the resolution to pay, but it was not a cable car but an elevator. How is feels to watch the sea in a slow moving elevator without the need to buy a ticket. You have to go up with a devout mind but it’s hard to keep down from being excited like a child. After enjoying a slight thrill and scenery, I got closer to the loyal dead tower and found chrysanthemums placed. I think somebody put it there yesterday(25 June). I payed a silent tribute and walked slowly. There aren’t almost any people since it is in the weekday. The place is filled with peace from the green grass and blue sky, quiet mood and the sea faraway. Is it because the spirits of the patriots that have become the bronze statues before the loyal dead tower fill this place? Are their hands that have been stretched out eagerly for grasping the peace like these days? It seems as if they are looking down Busan that has overcome the tragedy of the war from above the sky.

 If you walk straight down to the opposite side of the loyal dead tower, the Democratic Park shows its form starting with the 4.19 memorial. The torch praising the will shines the way. We, who were tired of the hot weather got slightly shaken at the hill that seems to be a little steep, but don’t we need to look thoroughly once we’ve came here? We walk along the path. Many yards of the Democratic Park are given pretty pure Korean names. Neokgirim yard(praising the soul), Garisari yard, Eoryeopsari yard, and the Baram yard. This place that has the meaning more than a park keeps another deep meaning in each and every space.


 Just in time, there was an exhibit being held at the Jabeunpyeolcheoboim room in the Democratic Strife Memorial Hall. The special exhibition of people’s art being held in the remembrance of the 26^th anniversary of the June Democratic strife, <Rabbit Inside the Submarine>. Actually I don’t know much about arts. Same on history. I just know what kinds of events had happened, and don’t know deeply about them. The <Rabbit Inside the Submarine> nevertheless came deeply into my heart. The picture of our grandparents drawn on rice sacks instead of the canvas, our fathers wearing safety helmets, our sisters working at the factories… and the engravings. I admired the picture that looked like the photo of our old society which filled one side of the wall completely for a very long time. The big picture where you can’t pick out the main character says in other words, everyone is the character. Everyone was the leader of the economic development, and everyone was the starting point of the democratic strife, and the picture was like of everyone’s, that has made this society more violently. The title of the exhibition is odd, the <Rabbit Inside the Submarine>. I found out what that meant, and they said that it derived from the writer called ‘Georgyu.’ He was a seaman that road on the submarine when he was young, and during those days there wasn’t any equipment to measure oxygen, so they would carry a rabbit that was more sensitive than human beings. If the rabbit did not seem well they filled in the oxygen above the surface of the water and submerged in again. ‘Georgyu’ said, ‘poets are like the rabbits inside the submarine.’ In other words, writers are those who realize the situation of the society first and notify them. This exhibition that kept the 80’s itself was the trace of those who became the rabbit through artworks such as writings and pictures. The <Rabbit Inside the Submarine> was held from 4 June to 7 July, and it was not only held at the Democratic Park but also at the Bosu-dong Bookstore Alley Culture Center, the Catholic Center and the Totatoga Space Anchor.

 After taking a break for a while at the cafeteria inside the building, I went up to the place to have a view, and the place was better than any other observatory. I could see the container piles at the Busan harbor through the telescope. I could also see the high and shining buildings at the Haeundae. I could feel yet again that the place called Busan has such various images. I felt the same on my way to Joongang Park, which was crooked and narrow. Looking at the shantytown with houses so closely together I felt as if time has passed backwards. The scenery is affectionate but also a little bitter. I guess it’s because the stories of the people there won’t be so cheerful. Looking at the skyscrapers and the place that seems to be still in the 1990’s at the same time, at the Democratic Park, it feels pretty strange. The place is called ‘place to watch’ so I just stand and watch. It seems as if the stories of the people living intensely there are pouring out. Even the apartments, the Busan harbor, the Haeundae and Gwanganri. People who struggled in order to live in front of the basic question called ‘life,’ people who came out to the streets to live a better life, people who threw their bodies to live well together. Do they also watch at the ‘place to watch?’ What would they be thinking of? I just took a look at the Democratic Park, but I have so many questions to ask. 

 On the way out, there is something called the ‘touch fun Busan.’ It gives tourist information in various languages, and it shows the map and provides tourism interpretations. The photo zone function was the most popular among all. If you press the button and smile looking at the camera above the machine, that’s it. You can change the background and decorate the photo like the sticker photo. I couldn’t just pass by so I made a V with my friends. We made such a fuss in front of that for a long time, and sent the photo by e-mail and then left the spot.

 There are lots of beautiful places in Busan. There are so many spectacles. But if I had to take a foreign friend for a guide, the first place that I would like to show would be this place. I want that friend to feel by heart this place that is very meaningful with the Korean history and spirit kept as it is. Being more than a clean shelter, everything that has made all of us from Busan to Seoul is over here. I came here with a light step, but on the way home I had a hard time calming down my overwhelming heart.