BIFF Square (BIFF 광장)

Busan&rsquo;s modern movie district was originally little more than a pair of cinemas that were built following Korea&rsquo;s liberation from Japanese colonial rule over half a century ago. However, major renovations took place ahead of the first Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), and the newly transformed district was named BIFF Square on September 13, 1996.<br /><br />Having been remade into a cultural tourist attraction promoting the advancement of Korea&rsquo;s film industry, BIFF Square has contributed to Busan&rsquo;s status as an international cultural tourist city. The 428 meter-long street stretching from the Buyeong Theater in Nampo-dong to the overpass in Chungmu-dong was divided into &ldquo;Star Street&rdquo; and &ldquo;Festival Street,&rdquo; and on the eve of the festival each year the &ldquo;BIFF Square Ground Opening&rdquo; is held here. During the ceremony, events such as the hand printing of famous movie celebrities and Nunkkot Jeomdeung (snow-flower lighting) take place. A district such as BIFF Square, crowded with first-run theaters in a city is rare not only in Asia but Europe as well, and for this reason it holds great potential. In recent years, the square has grown into a more complex area, featuring not only movie theaters but also shops and leisure facilities, attracting growing numbers of young visitors and tourists.