(Photo by Nam-gu District/Photo courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)
Busan’s two most popular beaches, Gwangalli and Haeundae, took the top spots in the new “Korea Tourism 500” rankings released by Yanolja Research.
Gwangalli placed first nationwide, followed by Haeundae in second, reflecting their dominant presence on social media and continued popularity with domestic and international travelers.
The rankings are based on a data model that combines online mentions and positive sentiment, each weighted 50%, using posts collected across Instagram, YouTube, blogs, and other social platforms.
This marks the first time the travel research arm has released a nationwide evaluation built on public digital engagement rather than expert panels.
Busan recorded 20 destinations on the overall list, with nine making the top 100.
Among them were Dongbaekseom (56), Jagalchi Market (57), Songjeong Beach (59), Beomeosa Temple (70), Haedong Yonggungsa (81), Gamcheon Culture Village (98), and Eulsukdo (99).
The city’s mix of coastal scenery, historic sites, and urban tourism helped nearly half of its listed locations land in the upper tier.