Pork and rice soup tops Busan food ranking among Taiwanese visitors

Dwaeji-gukbap (pork and rice soup), a signature Busan dish / Courtesy of the Busan Metropolitan Government

Pork and rice soup, or dwaeji-gukbap, topped the list of favorite Busan dishes among Taiwanese tourists, the largest group of foreign visitors to the southern port city, the Busan Tourism Organization said Wednesday.

The findings come from a survey of 15,796 Taiwanese visitors conducted by the Busan Tourism Organization (BTO), who were asked to name their favorite local foods in the city. In the multiple-response survey, 66.9 percent chose dwaeji-gukbap, making it the top pick. Busan fish cake followed at 37.4 percent, trailed by ssiat-hotteok (seed-stuffed sweet pancake) and grilled eel.

A staple in Gyeongsang Province, dwaeji-gukbap spread across the region after the Korean War and remains especially popular in Busan as a symbol of local comfort food. Typically priced between 7,000 and 10,000 won ($5 to $7), it’s known for its hearty pork bone broth with sliced boiled pork and rice served in one bowl.

From January to April this year, Busan welcomed more than 1.06 million foreign tourists, up 24 percent from the same period last year. Taiwanese travelers made up the largest share at 18.1 percent, followed by visitors from China, Japan, the United States and the Philippines.

Food is a major draw for foreign tourists in Busan. A survey of 1,060 visitors conducted last year by the BTO found that 81.3 percent cited culinary experiences as a reason for their trip, ranking it second after sightseeing around the city’s natural scenery as the top factor in choosing Busan.

In line with the trend, the Busan Metropolitan Government and BTO partnered with Taiwanese carrier Tigerair to launch an in-flight meal inspired by the pork dish in late March, selling more than 2,100 meals through August.

With new flight routes added, the number of Taiwanese tourists visiting Busan is expected to rise in the second half of the year.

Air Busan will operate a charter flight between Taipei and Busan during the Chuseok holiday period this October, while EVA Air plans to launch a new scheduled service on the same route. Jeju Air is also preparing to begin flights between Kaohsiung and Busan.