 
Dongbaek Island (designated Busan Metropolitan City Memorial #46) was an island in ancient times. However,
accumulation of earth and sand carried from Jwa-dong, Jung-dong, and U-dong by the Chuncheon Stream eventually
formed a land bridge, making it an island in name only. Dongbaek Island is thick with camellias and pine trees.
The summit contains a bronze statue of Scholar Choi Chi-won (pen name Ko Un)
and a monument to his memory.
The Haeundae Carved Stone (designated as Busan Metropolitan City Memorial #45 together with Dongbaek Island) is
on the rock bed of the southern end of Dongbaek Island. According to legend, Choi Chi-son passed by on
his way to Gaya-san to give up his government position and was fascinated with the exquisite wonders of
Dongbaek Island. He created a base and carved 'Haeundae' for his other pen name of 'Hae-un.' The area's name
'Haeundae' originates from this.
At the seashore underneath the rock wall sits the statue of a mermaid. It represents the legendary heart
breaking love story of the princess of Topaz from the Naranda country beyond the Sea. In this country lived
a mermaid who was married to the King of Mungungnara. She shed many tears longing for her homeland and
reflected on the topaz bead given by her grandmother-in-law. A monument for the song "Come back to
Busan Port" (sung by Jo Yong-pil) stands at the flower garden of the shore protection roadside of
Haeundae Beach.
Location: U 1-dong
Directions: Connected to Haeundae Beach
Directios to Haeundae Beach: Busan Station -> Haeundae (inter-city bus: 139, 140, 239, 240, 302; deluxe bus: 2001, 2003) - takes about 40 minutes
Profile of Choi Chi-won
Choi Chi-won was born along the Namcheon River in Gyeongju, in the first year of King Heon-an's reign
(A.D. 857) of the Silla Dynasty. At the age of 12, he went to study in China. By the age of 18, he had passed
the state examinations and became an official of 'Yool-Soo-Hyeon-Wee' (a Chinese government post). At the age
of 25, he suppressed a rebellion aroused by Hwang-so, a traitorous subject, and became widely known in
the fields of the Chinese literature. This resulted in his being granted the government post names of 'Si-ur-sa'
and 'Ja-Geum-Ur-Dai.'
At the age of 28, he returned to Korea and became an official of 'Si-deok.' This caused others to became
jealous of him. As a result, he was demoted to work as an government official of 'Tae-soo' of minor districts
such as Taein, Sursan, and Hamyang. Although he gained the government post of 'A-Chan' by appealing to the King
and showing the urgency of clean politics, he was able to do little to prevent the declining fate of his country.
At the age of 40, he finally gave up his post and began to wander all over the country. Taking his family with
him, he at last arrived in Gaya-san to cultivate
his moral sense.
From then, nobody knows where he went. He left his got (traditional Korean hat) and his shoes behind
him in the woods. At the time of the Goreo Dynasty, people had great respect for him as the Father of
'He-Dong-Yu-Hak' (Korean Confucianism) and the King granted him the posthumous title of 'Mun-Chang-hu,'
praising his high morality and achievements of literature.
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