Nam-gu, located in the southeast of Busan, meets with Suyeong-gu with the boundary of Daenamro-street in the northeast; Dong-gu with the boundary of Dongcheon in the west; Jin-gu with the boundary of Mt. Hwangryeong in the northwest; Busan Bay in the south; and, Suyeong Bay and the sea in the east.

Nam-gu was included in Byeonhan Country in Three Kingdoms Period, and then governed under Geochilsanguk Country. During Three Kingdoms Period, it belonged to Daejeunghyeon (hyeon means “district” in those days), Shilla Kingdom; Daejeunghyeon was renamed as Dongpyeonghyeon under the reign of King Gyeongdeok, United Shilla Kingdom.

In the 9th year of King Heyonjong, in the early Koryo Kingdom, Dongpyeonghyeon belonged to Yangju-gun; to Dongrae-jin in the early Choseon Kingdom; and then, to Dong-myeon and Namchon-myeon of Dongrae-bu. After that, it was included in Seoha-myeon and Yongju-myeon of Dongrae-gun at the reformation of the administrative boundary, in 1914, under the rule of Japanese imperialism. In April, 1936, it belonged to Busan-Jin Branch Office which was established (to exercise jurisdiction over Daeyeong-dong, Yongho-dong, Yongdang-dong, Uam-dong and Gamman-dong) while Yongju-meyon and some Nam-myeon were incorporated into Busan-bu; in Oct. 1942, Suyeong and some Haeundae of Dongrae-gun were incorporated into Busan-bu, and Suyeong Branch Office (current, Suyeong-gu) was established. After the establishment of the Korean government, it belonged to Busan City by organization of a municipality in Aug. 1949; it belonged to Daeyeon Branch Office in Sept. 1953; it belonged to Daeyeong Branch Office of Busan Jin-gu and Suyeong Branch Office of Dongrae-gu by organization of districts in Jan. 1957. In Mar. 1973, two branch offices were combined into and transferred to the direct control of Busan City. In Oct. 1975, it was raised to Nam-gu, controlling 18 dongs; in May, 1988, it became an autonomous gu (district) due to exercising nationwide self-governing system, and governed 30 dongs. In Mar. 1995, 10 dongs of Nam-gu (Gwangan-dong, Mangmi-dong, Minrak-dong etc.) were transferred from Nam-gu to Suyeong-gu due to reorganization of districts.

Until industrialized in 1970s, Nam-gu was no more than a waste land as far as education went. In spite of the long period from the Choseon Kingdom, Japanese ruling period and to the 1960s after the restoration of independence, and corresponding violent historical changes in Korea in those times, Nam-gu remained as a remote region for education, which was focused on Dongrae-gu and central Busan City.

Yet, as the population rapidly increased in the 1970s and the city started expanding, Nam-gu has slowly risen as the center of Busan education.

Before that, it consisted of farming and fishing villages, so unoccupied lands were relatively many, and the natural view was comparatively beautiful.

Besides, the geological condition not far from the center of Busan attracted Nam-gu as suitable lots for schools. Therefore, elementary, middle and high schools were built close together after the mid-70s. This trend accelerated more in the 1980s: there were only four elementary schools and only one high educational institute, that is Busan Fishery College, which is the predecessor of Bugyeong University, in the Japanese ruling period. Yet elementary and middle schools overflowed in the late 1980s. In 1990s, Nam-gu was transformed again in an aspect of education. It was changed from elementary/middle school-concentrated district to a high education institutes-concentrated one. That is, Bugyeong University (combined former Busan Fishery College and Busan Industry College), Busan University of Foreign Studies, Gyeongseong University and Dongmyeong Information University were successively elevated to university-level. Thus, Nam-gu was elevated to the district where high educational institutes were most crowded. In this period, Busan Art College was built, resulting in two colleges with existing Dongmyeong College. Nam-gu in Busan occupies its position as a university town like Shinchon and Dongsungro in Seoul, which is very exceptional for a district in a local city. It was a huge change when compared with 30 years ago, when it was nothing but a wasteland of education. Besides, cultural facilities such as Busan Municipal Museum and Busan Cultural Center are concentrated here, playing a role of a delivery room for high education in Busan. Nam-gu district is viewed as a major center of education and culture in Busan in the 21st century.