The Warmth of Art Encountered at Oncheoncheon Stream in Geumjeong-gu, Busan: 2025 Busan International Performing Arts Festival (BIPAF)

The Scent of Art Lingering at the End of the September Breeze

In September, when the cool breeze begins to blow, Oncheoncheon Stream in Geumjeong-gu, Busan, sets aside its usual tranquility and fills with a special kind of excitement. The season for the Busan International Performing Arts Festival (BIPAF) has returned. As you walk around 48, Jangjeononcheoncheon-ro, Geumjeong-gu, Busan, you encounter the sight of familiar walking paths transforming into a massive outdoor stage.

This year, the festival features the theme 'Art, Permeating Between Us.' It carries a warm intention to break down the invisible walls between others and ourselves in the midst of our busy daily lives through art. The atmosphere of the festival is unique. The gestures of a circus performer encountered by chance while walking, and the melodies of musical theater drifting from somewhere, mix with the scent of grass that brushes against your nose, making you stop in your tracks. When the laughter and applause of the audience spread along the waterways of Oncheoncheon Stream, one truly feels, 'Ah, we are connected.'

A Panorama of Art Spread Across Every Street

This year's festival is exceptional in scale. There are about 28 performances prepared, including works from artists from 10 countries around the world, such as Europe, South America, and Asia, alongside top-tier domestic works. Rather than just watching from a traditional stage, it is quite fun to discover performances casually placed throughout the Oncheoncheon Stream and the Busan National University (PNU) college street.

The unique sense of presence in street art, where you can feel the performer's breath from very close by, offers an experience completely different from indoor theaters. Sometimes you hold your breath at the tension of a circus, and other times you soak in the romance of a musical drama. After the performance, the artists and the audience naturally make eye contact and exchange short greetings; I think that fleeting connection is the greatest charm of this festival. Mixed with the vibrant atmosphere unique to the Busan National University (PNU) college street between performances, it feels as if Geumjeong-gu has become a huge art village throughout the festival period.

Traveler's Tips for a More Fulfilling Experience

To fully enjoy this festival, 'comfortable shoes' are essential above all else. The route from walking along the Oncheoncheon Stream path to the Busan National University (PNU) college street is quite long. I recommend visiting in the late afternoon, around the time the sun begins to set. The sunset that paints Oncheoncheon Stream red and the atmosphere when the streetlights turn on are truly romantic.

There are hidden delicious cafes and small bookstores nearby, so if you get tired of watching performances, it's great to step inside and take a rest. If you are using public transportation, you can reach the festival site by getting off at Pusan National University Station or Jangjeon Station on Busan Subway Line 1 and walking for a short while. I recommend traveling with light steps or by bicycle rather than by car to look around the area. Since there are many people during the festival period, using public transportation is much more comfortable and efficient.

Art was not something grand. In Geumjeong-gu in September, art was already permeating the wind blowing between us and the gazes we shared with one another. Why not head to Oncheoncheon Stream in Geumjeong-gu this autumn to fill the gaps in your daily life?