The Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum will host the 《2026 Gwangbok Record Fair》 on the first floor of its annex from October 9 to 10. Marking its 3rd year, the Gwangbok Record Fair is a specialized content program of the museum annex that revives the cultural identity of the Gwangbok-dong area in the old downtown of Busan, which was once the center of Korean pop culture.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the opening of Busan Port, this year's event focuses on examining Busan's regional characteristics and modern/contemporary history through popular music that has evolved against the backdrop of Busan's sea and port. Various programs under the theme of Busan's maritime music, including lectures, performances, DJing, and music appreciation sessions, will be showcased.

Day 1: October 9
Mua Music Appreciation Room (1:00 PM): A program looking back on the heyday of "Mua," a music appreciation room located in Busan's old downtown that gained nationwide fame in the 1970s and 1980s. Former Mua DJ Choi In-rak will host the session, introducing various music that flowed into Busan Port under the theme "Music That Crossed the Sea."
Cho Yong-pil Collection (7:00 PM): An appreciation session featuring representative songs of the legendary singer Cho Yong-pil, including "Come Back to Busan Port," a song set against Busan Port and considered the origin of Korean "trot rock" in the late 1970s. Bassist Rho Sun-taek will provide commentary on the stories behind the songs.

Day 2: October 10
Vinyl DJing Sessions (1:00 PM & 3:00 PM): Professional DJs will unearth and introduce lesser-known pop music, featuring Midas Beats at 1:00 PM and Tiger Disco at 3:00 PM.
Busan Port Remix (2:00 PM): An "annotated music appreciation session" hosted by editor and writer Jung Woo-young, introducing rare records featuring Busan Port.
Listening Lecture (4:00 PM): Pop music critic Lee Dong-soon will deliver a lecture titled "Busan is the Hometown of Trot," shedding light on the history and resilience of the port city of Busan as the birthplace of Korean pop music and trot. (Note: Lee Dong-soon is a pop critic and poet who has published six essay collections including "Busan is the Hometown of Trot" and "Biographies of Modern Korean Singers," and has hosted Busan KBS program "Gayo 1beonji" and KBS radio program "Following the Years, Following the Songs".)
"Port City" Concert (7:00 PM): The grand finale of this year's event. The lineup includes "Kim Il-doo and Dalbyeoldeul," spearheaded by Busan-based singer-songwriter Kim Il-doo, alongside Cho Dong-hee (with Park Hye-ri), a lyricist and singer-songwriter from Dong-a Planning, a label that held a unique position in Korean pop music history in the mid-to-late 1980s. Kim Il-doo and Dalbyeoldeul will perform self-composed songs such as "The Matelot's Woman" and "Hot Fire," capturing the dynamic energy and sorrow of the sea in Busan's port. This will be an opportunity to experience the unique sentiment of the maritime city of Busan through music.

Record Booths and Information

Operating Hours: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM daily during the event period.
Details: Around 20 record collectors and shops will participate to sell vinyl records and related books, alongside designated listening spaces.
Programs such as the listening lectures, performances, and music appreciation rooms require advance registration, which opens on the 28th via the museum's website (busan.go.kr/mmch). Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis with 40 to 50 participants per program, and admission is free.

"This event is an opportunity to encounter the rich stories embedded in Busan's sea and port through popular music," said Kim Ki-yong, Director of the Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum. "I hope citizens will take this time to experience Busan's music and history together."

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