Long overshadowed by faster, flashier Seoul, South Korea’s second city is now coming into its own as an international destination for both business and pleasure. Busan owes its tourism boom at least in part to its reputation as a laid-back seaside city where Koreans can shed their bali bali (“Hurry up!”) lifestyle for beachfront beers and the country’s freshest seafood. But that doesn’t mean the city isn’t fully equipped for business travelers.

Though it’s only two and a half hours from Seoul on the KTX bullet train, many direct flights have been added to Gimhae International Airport, connecting Busan to major cities such as Hong Kong, Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur. Complete with English signage, the subway system is efficient and easy to use, whizzing passengers between most of the city’s major neighborhoods in less than 30 minutes. Taxis are abundant (a red sign means “available”) and offer a translation service; just dial 1330 on your cellphone.

An increasing number of international conventions and events — including Asia’s largest film festival — strained Busan’s long-stagnant hotel scene, and luxury hotel chains are taking notice. A spate of new 5-star hotels is scheduled to crop up in the next few years and has prompted the city’s existing accommodations to make much-needed renovations. The jewel of Busan’s new developments, Haeundae Marine City, is changing the skyline with a cluster of futuristic glass-and-steel skyscrapers that now house the city’s most prestigious addresses.

Among them is the Park Hyatt Busan, which completed its 33-floor building shaped like an ocean wave earlier this year. Outfitted by the Japanese design firm Super Potato, the hotel’s 269 guestrooms and suites combine organic elements such as granite and French oak hardwood with floor-to-ceiling windows. Suites are supplied with thoughtful extras like an in-room espresso machine, cotton Korean robes and handpicked antiques, as well as burnt-orange rugs that complement the panoramic views of aquamarine water.

On the top floor of the Park Hyatt, four Drawing Rooms outfitted in residential style (including an open kitchen) provide a comfortable space for private meetings and presentations overlooking the city’s Diamond Bridge. And one floor down, the hotel’s signature restaurant, the Dining Room, accommodates everything from power breakfasts to lunch or dinner meetings in a space reminiscent of a traditional Korean house.

The menu, however, is far from old-fashioned, featuring premium steaks from around the world grilled under the direction of Executive Chef Stefano Di Salvo. A sushi bar full of international and local seafood — such as Dokdo shrimp and Jeju rock sea bream — is complemented by wines and saké from the restaurant’s walk-in cellar as well as signature soju cocktails.

There’s no shortage of Italian fusion restaurants in Busan, but for the real thing foodies head to the recently opened Locanda Rossi. Located next to the Park Hyatt inside the Zenith Square condominium tower, the restaurant serves authentic Italian dishes with Chef Federico Rossi at the helm. The wood and brick interior is intimate — only seating up to 50 people — but can also accommodate large groups for lunches of handmade gnocchi, gorgonzola pizza and beef tenderloin in Chianti truffle sauce.

Although Marine City is quickly becoming Busan’s new center, the city’s old heart, Seomyeon, still beats with energy. A hub for shopping and transportation, the neighborhood’s streets and underground arcades pulse with people at all hours of the day. In the middle of the action, the Lotte Hotel Busan features 760 recently refurbished guestrooms, including a Lotte Giants Room filled with memorabilia from Busan’s baseball team.

Shinsegae, the largest department store in the world © Jarn Godfrey | Dreamstime.com

Just because Busaners love their beaches and baseball doesn’t mean the city’s dress code is casual. Like anywhere in South Korea, first impressions are important, and businesspeople are expected to look the part. If you’re feeling unsure about the contents of your suitcase, consider stopping in the Shinsegae Department Store in Centum City. Officially recognized as the largest department store in the world, it’s a one-stop shop for domestic and international luxury items, including Hermès handbags, Armani suits, Louis Vuitton luggage and popular Korean cosmetics. Plus, the international food market and wine cellar in the basement is a great place to pick up a gift for a client.

In Korean culture, drinking and socializing with coworkers and clients can be at least as important as formal meetings. To discuss business in a more relaxed environment, Koreans sometimes visit the jjimjilbang, a public bathhouse where visitors can relax in saunas, eat lunch or soak in gender-segregated bath areas. SpaLand, the most high-end jjimjilbang in the city — if not the whole country — is located inside the Shinsegae Department Store and operates from 6 a.m. to midnight.

Read more about Busan’s Sajik Stadium.