Haeundae Blue Line Park

A front-window ride on the Haeundae Sky Capsule from Cheongsapo to Mipo, on an elevated rail above the old Donghae Nambu Line along the Busan coast.

The route

Haeundae Blue Line Park follows 4.8 km of the old Donghae Nambu Line between Mipo, at the eastern end of Haeundae Beach, and Songjeong. The Donghae Nambu Line between Busan and Ulsan was completed in 1935, and for decades its single track ran along the slope just above the sea. When the line was rebuilt as a double-track railway, trains left this coastal section in 2013, and that year the national rail infrastructure agency and the City of Busan agreed to turn the disused land into a park.

The park opened on 6 October 2020 with two rides. The Beach Train runs on the original track, stopping at six stations between Mipo and Songjeong in about 30 minutes. Above it, on an elevated rail 7 to 10 m high, four-seat Sky Capsules travel about 2 km between Mipo and Cheongsapo at around 4 km/h, taking roughly half an hour each way. A walking path runs beside the track for the whole distance, so the old railway can also be followed on foot.

What you will see

The video starts at Cheongsapo, a small fishing harbour known for its sunrises. The capsule leaves the station on its elevated rail and heads west along the shore. Directly below runs the Beach Train's track, the old main line, and the two rides sometimes pass or overtake each other on the way, the slow capsule above and the train on the rails beneath.

Nearing Mipo, the view opens out over Haeundae: the 411.6 m, 101-storey LCT The Sharp landmark tower, the long sweep of Haeundae Beach and, in clear weather, the Gwangan Bridge across the bay. The ride ends at Mipo station, at the eastern end of the beach, close to the sand and the hotels of Haeundae.

Riding it for real

Each Sky Capsule carries up to four people, and every group rides on its own. Capsules often sell out days or even weeks ahead, especially at weekends and around sunset, so book in advance. The Beach Train runs about three times an hour, with tickets for a single ride or for getting on and off at the stations along the way, and its last departures run later in summer.

Mipo is a short walk from the eastern end of Haeundae Beach, and Songjeong, at the other end of the line, has its own beach. Many visitors ride one way and walk back along the coastal path. Check Haeundae Blue Line Park for current timetables and fares before you go.

The video is embedded from YouTube and remains on its owner’s channel. Views count toward the original video.