 |
| A beach near Busan, circa 1911. Robert Neff Collection |
By Robert Neff
In the late 19th century, the small foreign community at Fusan (now modern Busan) often escaped the stifling summer heat by bathing (swimming) at one of the nearby beaches. William Nelson Lovatt, Commissioner of Customs at that port, and his family often went to the beach and frolicked in the shallows while searching for pretty shells.
Of course, they were not the only ones.
In 1883, a foreign resident noted that some Koreans sought relief from the heat (and, presumably, mosquitoes) by sleeping on the seashore.
 |
| Swimming at the beach, circa 1920-1930s. Robert Neff Collection |
While the beaches were relatively safe, there were occasional drownings. In September 1884, Hanseong Sunbo ― Korea's first modern newspaper ― reported that a Japanese university student became a mul gwishin (water ghost) while swimming near Fusan. His death was not attributed to malevolent supernatural spirits but to his own foolishness and the paper concluded that he had brought it upon himself.
Some did bring it upon themselves and not all were Japanese. On the morning of April 25, 1892, a Korean official ― who had recently returned from Japan where he had been negotiating the Korean-Austrian Treaty ― apparently became so distraught that he waded out into the ocean and drowned himself.
Even in these troubled times of COVID 19, the Busan's beaches remain a popular refuge from the heat. Go out and have fun, but be safe.
 |
| A view of the beach, circa 1920-1930s. Robert Neff Collection |
 |
| A laborer takes advantage of the cool breeze at the beach, circa 1920s. Robert Neff Collection |
![[INTERVIEW] Jung Woo-sung was initially hesitant to take on role in 'Hunt'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/49e565c241d44d48b7795a3f430ab658.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
