SEA LIFE Busan Aquarium

Right beside the sand of Haeundae Beach, you head underground and walk through a tunnel where sharks and rays glide overhead. SEA LIFE Busan Aquarium opened in November 2001, and its 80 m underwater tunnel is described as the longest in Korea. It is easy to combine with a beach walk and gets especially busy on rainy days and summer afternoons.

What it is

The aquarium is entirely indoors, spread over three basement levels, with eight exhibition zones of themed tanks and the tunnel. It has welcomed more than 15 million visitors since opening. Originally called Busan Aquarium, it was rebranded as SEA LIFE in July 2014, when the interior was renovated to be more animal-friendly and new areas were added, including Stingray Coast, Seahorse Kindergarten and Shark Walk.

Early figures listed about 250 species and 35,000 animals across 40 displays, with the main tank designed to be seen through acrylic windows and from the tunnel. The layout has changed since the rebranding, so follow the on-site map.

What to see

• Underwater tunnel: Sharks, rays and shoals of fish pass above the 80 m tunnel. The main tank is described as holding 3 million litres.
• Glass-bottom shark boat: A ride across the top of the shark tank in a transparent boat.
• Stingray Coast: A shallow pool where you can watch rays up close.
• Penguins, otters and jellyfish: Not just fish; there are penguin, otter and jellyfish displays.
• VR zone: A virtual-reality experience of the deep sea.

Good to know

• Background: Busan Aquarium was launched as a private-investment tourism project between an Australian leisure company and the local government; it is now part of Merlin Entertainments, which runs the SEA LIFE brand.

Nearby

• Haeundae Beach: The aquarium entrance opens straight onto the beach.
• Dongbaekseom Island and Nurimaru APEC House: A walking trail at the western end of the beach.
• Jangsan: The volcanic mountain behind Haeundae New Town, with trailheads two subway stops away.

Tripto tips

• Hours: Weekdays 10:00–19:00, weekends 10:00–20:00, last entry one hour before closing. Listed as open every day.
• Tickets: Listed at KRW 31,000 for adults and KRW 26,500 for children (free under 3). Online advance tickets are often discounted; check the official website.
• Time needed: 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
• Getting there: Walk to the beach from Haeundae Station on Busan Metro Line 2.
• Crowds: Weekend afternoons and rainy days are very busy; weekday mornings are the calmest.
• Half-day plan: After the aquarium, walk west along Haeundae Beach to the Dongbaekseom Island trail for a half-day that mixes indoors and seaside.