Masan

Throughout Korean history, Masan served as a significant port city of Happo, which went through rapid modernization in the 19th century.

Due to its status as a free trade port, Masan has experienced consistent growth until the early 1990s when the construction of Changwon went underway and began to attract citizens around the region.

With over 20,000 Mongol troops as well as 5,000 Korean, the allied armies departed Masan on board 900 ships on 15 September 1274 in a failed campaign to conquer Japan.

[1] To restore order, authorities blacked out Masan and General Carter B. Magruder eventually dispatched US Marines to quell the unrest.

[1] Authorities claimed that he had drowned, but many Masan residents did not believe this explanation and forced their way into the hospital where Kim's body was stored.

In the following days, mass demonstrations broke out involving as many as 40,000 residents throughout the characteristically politically left-leaning city.

[2] October 16–20, 1979 – Protests broke out in Masan (as well as in Busan) against the regime of President Park Chung Hee following a brutal police crackdown on a sit-in strike of female textile workers from YH Trading Company.

It previously occasionally hosted the Lotte Giants, a Korea Baseball Organization team which plays in nearby Busan.

Masan is generally known for its fishing industry and is the origin of spicy Agujjim, a steamed dish made with agwi (아귀, blackmouth angler).

Since its creation, agujjim has been considered a local specialty of Masan, especially around Odong-dong, one of the neighborhoods there and is favored by the public nationwide.

The port was once operated by the Mongolians (Yuan Dynasty in China) and used in the preparations to conquer Japan - which eventually failed.

It's a beautiful island with nice walking paths along the coast, green nature all around, and great views of the bay and mountains.