Hailing from the Northwest region of the United States, I landed in Busan a little over three years ago.
On my way here, I stopped in Seoul and Ulsan. Seoul reminded me a lot of the two years I spent in New York about a decade ago, where life was very ¡°dog eat dog.¡± I rarely saw any smiles while riding the subway or walking the streets of Seoul, let alone in any of the office buildings.
Here in Busan, it¡¯s thankfully different. You see people smiling, laughing and enjoying themselves much more.
The sun seems to shine with more heat, and people live life more vivaciously than their neighbors three hours to the north by KTX train.

Being from Seattle, I like living near the water. So Busan is perfect for me, as it is surrounded by beaches to the south and east. Plus, with a solid lineup of festivals, the second-largest city in Korea offers plenty of activities for both visitors and locals.

The Pusan International Film Festival, or PIFF, is my favorite. Honestly, it¡¯s one of the best things about the city, at least in my opinion. I love movies, and the festival helps inspire and excite film fans near and far. Currently, I occupy my time by hosting a radio show on the city¡¯s English-only radio station, e-FM, every evening.
To keep myself extra busy, I also teach at a couple of local universities.
I always wondered what the ¡°B¡±in my name meant. These days, I¡¯m thinking it means ¡°Busan!¡±

Brandon Na
Host at Busan e-FM