BUSAN, Aug. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — Busan, being geographically close to Japan, offers easy access to Japanese food and culture.
During the pandemic, the city streets have been filled with Japanese-style liquor stores and food vendors, causing Japanese cuisine to become more prevalent than Korean food in some areas.
Numerous establishments can be found in Seomyeon and Gwangalli, which are two of the city’s largest shopping districts.
Many of these shops display signs entirely in Japanese and have interiors modeled after authentic Japanese restaurants.
This situation has led to a somewhat divided response among consumers.
A 24-year-old resident named Kim expressed, “It’s a wonderful opportunity to savor Japanese cuisine and experience the culture without the need to travel abroad.”
Conversely, Woo, aged 28, remarked, “It would be disheartening if visitors to Busan mistake Seomyeon and Gwangalli for being just like Japan.”
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