Cheonan
Encyclopedia
Cheonan (tɕʰʌ.nan) is a city
located in the northeast corner of South Chungcheong
, a province of South Korea
, and is 83.6 km south of the capital, Seoul
. The average temperature in the city is 12.5oC, with a recorded high of 34.2oC and a low of -13.4oC.
Cheonan has been called “the core city of [the] nation” as it is the gateway to the area around the national capital region and western Chungcheong
, as well as the main transportation hub for the national road (Hwy 1, 21), railways, and expressways (IC 1-Gyeongbu Expressway
, 25-Honam Expressway
). At the Korail
station in the downtown center, the Gyeongbu Line
crosses north to south, and the Janghang Line
extends to the south-west. Land routes open in all directions, including north to Seoul
, west to Asan
, south to Gongju
and Daejeon
, and east to Daegu
and Busan
.
Due to its strategic location, Cheonan has also been an important postal center where early communications from the south converged before heading to Seoul, or where messages from the capital diverged into the southern regions. More formal and structured mail services later emerged with the construction of the city’s first postal outlets, and the entire history of mail service in Cheonan (and in South Korea in general since 1883) is now on display in the country’s largest postal museum in Yang-ji-mal in eastern Cheonan.
Cheonan was a relatively small town for much of the early half of the 20th century. As a transportation center, it was the site of an early engagement in the Korean War
, the Battle of Cheonan. Then, in 1963 three municipal districts in the area that were growing in size were merged and promoted to the category of si, meaning city, by order of Law No 1176. Thus the City of Cheonan was born, comprising the populations of Cheonan-gun, Cheonan-eup and Hwanseong-myeon. Over the next two decades, the city grew in size by incorporating neighboring populations, including that of Byeongcheon-myeon. In 1973, and in 1975 the city renamed 10 branch offices to 10 dongs, representing the major administrative regions of the city. The city continued to expand, absorbing neighboring ri, myeon, and eup, including Pungse-myeon and Guryong-ri in the early 80s. Throughout this time, new neighborhoods to the southwest that were collectively known as Cheonan-gun, such as Ssangbond-dong, also grew in population, and in 1995 Cheonan-gun and Cheonan-si were merged into one large Cheonan-si. Larger dong that comprised the city were subsequently separated into smaller factions, such as Ssangbond-dong into Bongmyong-dong and Ssangyong, which itself was later separated into Ssangyong 1(il)-dong and Ssangyong 2(i)-dong (and then again into Ssangyong 2(i)-dong and Ssangyong 3-dong in 2003). In 2002 a city ordinance promoted the northern fringe village of Jiksan-myeon and the southern fringe village of Mokcheon-myeon into Jiksan-eup and Mokcheon-eup. This extended the boundaries of the city to a span of approximately 16 kilometers from north (at Jiksan) to south (at Mokcheon), and about 12 kilometers from Sunmoon University in the west to Mount Taejo on the eastern fringe. Including all of its administrative regions (see below), the city now covers a total area of 636.25 km2.
To the east of the city are the counties of Jincheon
and Cheongwon in Chungcheongbuk-do
, to the north are the cities of Anseong
and Pyeongtaek
in Gyeonggi-do
, to the south is the county of Yeongi and the city of Gongju
, and to the west is the city of Asan
.
, Suwon
, or Daejeon
, and is considered temperate Eastern margin with periods of monsoon. Cheonan experiences a 4 season weather cycle, with moderately high summer temperatures and moderately low temperatures and snowfall in winter.
is a visual history of the struggle for independence in Korea. Opened on August 15, 1987 and made possible by private donations, it is a meant both as a reminder of Korea’s colonial past and as a means of building nationalist spirit. The hall stands on 980 acres (4 km²) of landscaped grounds. As well as the exhibits, visitors can see the Grand Hall of the Nation, the Monument to the Nation, and the Unification Bell.
Cheonan’s Postal Museum displays postal artifacts and material dating back to 1884, when the first postal services began. The entire history of the Korean postal service in on display, complete with photographs and letter carrying paraphernalia. The museum was not constructed here, but rather moved from Seoul
in February 2004 to its current home in the Ministry of Information and Communication Officials Training Institute in Cheonan.
, which is 15m high, 30m in circumference, and weighs over 60 tonnes. The Buddha sits with the peak of Mt. Taejosan directly behind it, and faces west out over the city and valley. Worshippers and tourists alike climb the steep stairs from the base of the mountain.
Mt. Taejosan is also home to the smaller Seong-bul-sa temple.
In the southwest of the city, near the city's border with neighboring Asan, sits Hyeonchung-sa Temple, a large complex that houses a main temple and an elaborate garden. The temple was built by Confucian scholars and is a shrine to Admiral Yi Sun-sin
(his grave is located on the grounds). The temple and grounds also house a number of National Treasures.
region. The other branch leads to the Honam
region.
Haneulgeori is a resting area for the animal residents of Cheonan Samgeori Park, and it provides scenery for visitors with its willow trees and small pond.
Taejosan Park is located at Mt. Taejosan. The park covers an area of over 327,000 square meters. Visitors there may find a sculpture park, six camp sites, a grass field, tennis courts, and an outdoor performance area. There are many facilities for youths and families, and residents use the area for rest and relaxation. For hikers and day-walkers, there is also a very extensive trail network. The park also encompasses the Joabulsang Bronze Buddha statue and the Gagwonsa Buddhist Temple.
's “Hymn” in a glass box constructed as a part of the building.
of the National League and Cheonan FC
of the K3 League
. Both play at the grand sporting complex in Buldang-dong, which is also open to the public for running, soccer, ultimate, and field sports. There are basketball courts, especially in the Ssangyong-dong area, as well as public tennis courts, and plenty of driving ranges for golf enthusiasts.
by train to see many merchants selling hodugwaja.
Cheonan is also known for several agricultural products including grapes and ya pear
s.
The dancing festival is the essence of the events from B-boy to traditional dances from India
, Africa
, Australia
, Ukraine
. Lots of teams also participate in the festival from 17 other nations such as China
and Japan
.
The festival started in 2003 and it got the position of "prepared" and "promising" in 2006 and 2007, respectively. As of Dec 26th of 2007, the festival was promoted to the degree of "excellent festival" or "우수축제."
To mark the historic April 1 Independence Movement, led by Yu Gwansun, each year a re-enactment of independence protests is staged at Aunae Marketplace. The real movement began with the lighting of 24 beacons at Mt. Maebongsan and other mountains on March 31, 1919. The following day, 3,000 people gathered at Aunae Marketplace and protested for independence. Japanese security forces arrived and 19 people were shot dead on the spot, including Yu Gwansun’s parents, with dozens more injured. These days people gather peacefully together in remembrance. Then a torch parade, symbolizing the lit beacons, slowly creeps from Aunae Market place through Byeongcheon and on to the Yu Gwansun Memorial.
On the 8th day of the 4th month of the Lunar Calendar
each year, Buddhists celebrate the first coming of Buddha. In Cheonan, local temples decorate their buildings and grounds with illuminated paper lanterns, and much of the city centre is closed to traffic for a parade followed by musical acts and a traditional drumming show. Koreans often dress in their Hanbok
s, a traditional Korean costume, and spend the day with friends and family wandering through the pedestrian-friendly streets and lanes on the city core.
and the second, (served by the KTX high speed railway) is Cheonan-Asan Station
. Different areas in Cheonan are also served by Seoul Subway Line 1, which began running between Seoul and Cheonan.
, LG Group
, and several technology companies all have operations in Cheonan. The large number of universities also contributes to an influx of spending, as students from around Korea flock here for eight months of the year.
The divisions of Dongnam-gu (Southeast) and Seobuk-gu (Northwest) are shown here:
In addition, Cheonan is the site of the prison exclusively intended for foreign prisoners, with more than 1 000 foreign inmates.
, Oregon
, United States
since May 1, 1989 Shijiazhuang
, Hebei
, China Cluses
, France Antipolo City
, Philippines
Administrative divisions of South Korea
||South Korea is divided into 8 provinces , 1 special autonomous province , 6 metropolitan cities , and 1 special city...
located in the northeast corner of South Chungcheong
Chungcheongnam-do
Chungcheongnam-do or Chungnam is a province in the west of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the south-western half of the former Chungcheong Province and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, thereafter becoming part of South Korea...
, a province of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, and is 83.6 km south of the capital, Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. The average temperature in the city is 12.5oC, with a recorded high of 34.2oC and a low of -13.4oC.
Cheonan has been called “the core city of [the] nation” as it is the gateway to the area around the national capital region and western Chungcheong
Chungcheong
Chungcheong was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Chungcheong was located in the southwest of Korea...
, as well as the main transportation hub for the national road (Hwy 1, 21), railways, and expressways (IC 1-Gyeongbu Expressway
Gyeongbu Expressway
The Gyeongbu Expressway is the second oldest and most heavily travelled expressway in South Korea, connecting Seoul to Suwon, Daejeon, Gumi, Daegu, and Busan. It has the route number 1, signifying its role as South Korea's most important expressway...
, 25-Honam Expressway
Honam Expressway
The Honam Expressway or Honamseon is a freeway serving the Honam region in South Korea. The freeway connects Nonsan on the Cheonan-Nonsan Expressway and Honam Expressway Branch Line to Gwangju and Suncheon on the Namhae Expressway. The freeway's route number is 25...
). At the Korail
Korail
Korea Railroad Corporation , promoted as Korail , is the national railroad operator in South Korea.Korail operates passenger and freight trains throughout South Korea...
station in the downtown center, the Gyeongbu Line
Gyeongbu Line
The Gyeongbu Line is the most important railway line in South Korea and one of the oldest. It was constructed by Japan in 1905, connecting Seoul to Suwon, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan. The Gyeongbu Line is by far the most heavily travelled rail line in South Korea...
crosses north to south, and the Janghang Line
Janghang Line
The Janghang Line is a railway line serving South Chungcheong Province in South Korea. The line connects Cheonan to the railway junction city of Iksan. The Janghang Line is served by frequent Saemaul-ho and Mugunghwa passenger train services between Seoul and Iksan...
extends to the south-west. Land routes open in all directions, including north to Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, west to Asan
Asan
Asan is a city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. It is located at , bordering the Seoul Metropolitan Area to the north. Asan has a population of approximately 250,000.Asan is known for its hot springs and is a city of spas....
, south to Gongju
Gongju
Gongju , also spelt Kongju, is a city in South Chungcheong province, South Korea. It is located at .- History :Gongju was formerly named Ungjin and was the capital of Baekje from AD 475 to 538. In this period, Baekje was under threat from Goguryeo...
and Daejeon
Daejeon
Daejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the...
, and east to Daegu
Daegu
Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
and Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
.
History
Cheonan has always been a major transportation hub of Korea because of its proximity to Seoul and its location near a gap in the eastern mountain range (Charyeong Range) that allows passage through to the major southeast centers of Daegu and Busan. Cheonan’s Samgeori (meaning “3 ways”) park has been noted as a strategic point of transportation and a place where culture has spread for a long time. It is the place where Samnamdaero, which starts in Seoul, parts, leading one branch of the road through to the south-eastern Yeongnam region (which includes Gimcheon, Daegu, Gyeongju and Dongnae), and leading the other through Gongju and Nonsan to the Honam region (which includes Jeonju, Gwangju, Suncheon, and Yeosu).Due to its strategic location, Cheonan has also been an important postal center where early communications from the south converged before heading to Seoul, or where messages from the capital diverged into the southern regions. More formal and structured mail services later emerged with the construction of the city’s first postal outlets, and the entire history of mail service in Cheonan (and in South Korea in general since 1883) is now on display in the country’s largest postal museum in Yang-ji-mal in eastern Cheonan.
Cheonan was a relatively small town for much of the early half of the 20th century. As a transportation center, it was the site of an early engagement in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, the Battle of Cheonan. Then, in 1963 three municipal districts in the area that were growing in size were merged and promoted to the category of si, meaning city, by order of Law No 1176. Thus the City of Cheonan was born, comprising the populations of Cheonan-gun, Cheonan-eup and Hwanseong-myeon. Over the next two decades, the city grew in size by incorporating neighboring populations, including that of Byeongcheon-myeon. In 1973, and in 1975 the city renamed 10 branch offices to 10 dongs, representing the major administrative regions of the city. The city continued to expand, absorbing neighboring ri, myeon, and eup, including Pungse-myeon and Guryong-ri in the early 80s. Throughout this time, new neighborhoods to the southwest that were collectively known as Cheonan-gun, such as Ssangbond-dong, also grew in population, and in 1995 Cheonan-gun and Cheonan-si were merged into one large Cheonan-si. Larger dong that comprised the city were subsequently separated into smaller factions, such as Ssangbond-dong into Bongmyong-dong and Ssangyong, which itself was later separated into Ssangyong 1(il)-dong and Ssangyong 2(i)-dong (and then again into Ssangyong 2(i)-dong and Ssangyong 3-dong in 2003). In 2002 a city ordinance promoted the northern fringe village of Jiksan-myeon and the southern fringe village of Mokcheon-myeon into Jiksan-eup and Mokcheon-eup. This extended the boundaries of the city to a span of approximately 16 kilometers from north (at Jiksan) to south (at Mokcheon), and about 12 kilometers from Sunmoon University in the west to Mount Taejo on the eastern fringe. Including all of its administrative regions (see below), the city now covers a total area of 636.25 km2.
Geography
The city is flanked to the east by the Charyeong Mountains, and spills out over plains and rolling hills to the west. Some of the mountains in the city's vicinity include Malloesan (611m), Seonggeosan (579m), Taejosan (422m), Gwangdeoksan (699m), and Manggyeongsan (600m). The city itself is generally flat, with only a few areas, such as Anseon-dong, that are built up on hilly terrain.To the east of the city are the counties of Jincheon
Jincheon
Jincheon County is a county in Chungcheongbuk-do Province, South Korea.-Location:Jincheon belongs to the middle of Chungcheongbuk-do. It borders several cities of its province but also meets Gyeonggi-do...
and Cheongwon in Chungcheongbuk-do
Chungcheongbuk-do
Chungcheongbuk-do is a province in the centre of South Korea. It was formed in 1896 from the northeastern half of the former Chungcheong province...
, to the north are the cities of Anseong
Anseong
Anseong is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, 80 km south of Seoul. Its geographical location is .Anseong promotes itself as "The City of Masters". It is known for producing brassware and arts and crafts. From late Spring to Fall, Anseong is holds its own Namsadang Neuri Festival...
and Pyeongtaek
Pyeongtaek
Pyeongtaek is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Located in the southwestern part of the province, Pyeongtaek was founded as a union of two districts in 940 AD, during the Goryeo dynasty. It was elevated to city status in 1986, and is home to a South Korean naval base and a large...
in Gyeonggi-do
Gyeonggi-do
Gyeonggi-do is the most populous province in South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Suwon. Seoul—South Korea's largest city and national capital—is located in the heart of the province, but has been separately administered as a provincial-level special city since 1946...
, to the south is the county of Yeongi and the city of Gongju
Gongju
Gongju , also spelt Kongju, is a city in South Chungcheong province, South Korea. It is located at .- History :Gongju was formerly named Ungjin and was the capital of Baekje from AD 475 to 538. In this period, Baekje was under threat from Goguryeo...
, and to the west is the city of Asan
Asan
Asan is a city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. It is located at , bordering the Seoul Metropolitan Area to the north. Asan has a population of approximately 250,000.Asan is known for its hot springs and is a city of spas....
.
Climate
The climate of Cheonan is similar to that of neighboring SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Suwon
Suwon
Suwon is the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. A major city of over a million inhabitants, Suwon lies approximately south of Seoul. It is traditionally known as "The City of Filial Piety"....
, or Daejeon
Daejeon
Daejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the...
, and is considered temperate Eastern margin with periods of monsoon. Cheonan experiences a 4 season weather cycle, with moderately high summer temperatures and moderately low temperatures and snowfall in winter.
Symbols
- City Tree : Weeping willow
- City Flower : Golden bell flower
- City Bird : Dove
- City Animal : Dragon
Education
The city has been designated the high tech headquarters for Korea. A number of colleges and universities are located there, including:- Baekseok Culture University, formerly Cheonan College of Foreign Studies
- Cheonan National Technical CollegeCheonan National Technical CollegeCheonan National Technical College is a public vocational college located in Cheonan City, a major city of South Chungcheong province in western South Korea. It employs around 90 instructors.-Academics:...
- Cheonan University, renamed Baekseok University and located on the Baekseok College site, though it is a separate entity
- Cheonan Yonam CollegeCheonan Yonam CollegeCheonan Yonam College is a private agricultural college in South Korea. It campus is located in a rural area of Cheonan City, in South Chungcheong province. The current president is Kyoung-deok Seo. The entering class of 2003 numbered 520 students....
- Dankook UniversityDankook UniversityDankook University is a private university in South Korea. Dankook University has been constantly recognized as one of top universities in Asia ranked 148th in Asia by QS Asian Universities Ranking in 2010...
(satellite campus) - Hoseo UniversityHoseo UniversityHoseo University is a private Christian university in South Korea. The main campus is located in 165, Sechul-ri, Baebang-myeon, Asan, Chungcheongnam-do. Another campus is located in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do. The name, Hoseo, is the regional name for the province .- History :Hoseo University was...
(satellite campus) - International Graduate University for Peace
- Korea Nazarene UniversityKorea Nazarene UniversityKorea Nazarene University is a Christian institute of higher education located in Cheonan, Republic of Korea.-Formation:Korea Nazarene University was founded in as Korea Nazarene Bible College in Seoul 1954 by Donald Owens and his wife, Adeline, both American missionaries of the Church of the...
- Korea University of Technology and EducationKorea University of Technology and EducationThe Korea University of Technology and Education, or KOREA TECH is a university in Cheonan, South Chungcheong, South Korea. The university was opened in 1991 and its current president is Dr...
- Namseoul University
- Sangmyung UniversitySangmyung UniversitySangmyung University is a private, coeducational university in South Korea. It operates campuses in Seoul and in Cheonan.-History:Sangmyung University is located in central Seoul, with a secondary campus in Cheonan, South Korea....
(satellite campus) - Sun Moon UniversitySun Moon UniversitySun Moon University is a university located in Cheonan, South Korea....
Museums
The Independence Hall of KoreaIndependence Hall of Korea
The Independence Hall of Korea is a history museum in Cheonan, South Korea. Opened on August 15, 1987, it has the largest exhibition facility in Korea with total floor area of 23,424 m²...
is a visual history of the struggle for independence in Korea. Opened on August 15, 1987 and made possible by private donations, it is a meant both as a reminder of Korea’s colonial past and as a means of building nationalist spirit. The hall stands on 980 acres (4 km²) of landscaped grounds. As well as the exhibits, visitors can see the Grand Hall of the Nation, the Monument to the Nation, and the Unification Bell.
Cheonan’s Postal Museum displays postal artifacts and material dating back to 1884, when the first postal services began. The entire history of the Korean postal service in on display, complete with photographs and letter carrying paraphernalia. The museum was not constructed here, but rather moved from Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
in February 2004 to its current home in the Ministry of Information and Communication Officials Training Institute in Cheonan.
Temples
Gagwonsa Buddhist temple is located on Mt. Taejosan. Located on the temple grounds is a large bronze sitting BuddhaBuddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
, which is 15m high, 30m in circumference, and weighs over 60 tonnes. The Buddha sits with the peak of Mt. Taejosan directly behind it, and faces west out over the city and valley. Worshippers and tourists alike climb the steep stairs from the base of the mountain.
Mt. Taejosan is also home to the smaller Seong-bul-sa temple.
In the southwest of the city, near the city's border with neighboring Asan, sits Hyeonchung-sa Temple, a large complex that houses a main temple and an elaborate garden. The temple was built by Confucian scholars and is a shrine to Admiral Yi Sun-sin
Yi Sun-sin
Yi Sun-shin was a Korean naval commander, famed for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin war in the Joseon Dynasty, and is well-respected for his exemplary conduct on and off the battlefield not only by Koreans, but by Japanese Admirals as well...
(his grave is located on the grounds). The temple and grounds also house a number of National Treasures.
Parks
Samgeori park has been a strategic point of transportation and a place where culture has spread for a long time. The Samnamdaero, which starts in Seoul, parts here. One branch of the road leads to the YeongnamYeongnam
Yeongnam is the name of a region that coincides with the former Gyeongsang Province in what is now South Korea....
region. The other branch leads to the Honam
Honam
Honam is a region coinciding with the former Jeolla Province in what is now South Korea. Today, the term refers to North and South Jeolla Provinces....
region.
Haneulgeori is a resting area for the animal residents of Cheonan Samgeori Park, and it provides scenery for visitors with its willow trees and small pond.
Taejosan Park is located at Mt. Taejosan. The park covers an area of over 327,000 square meters. Visitors there may find a sculpture park, six camp sites, a grass field, tennis courts, and an outdoor performance area. There are many facilities for youths and families, and residents use the area for rest and relaxation. For hikers and day-walkers, there is also a very extensive trail network. The park also encompasses the Joabulsang Bronze Buddha statue and the Gagwonsa Buddhist Temple.
Galleries
Arario Gallery is a 2006 addition to a revitalized Shinbu-dong area, which has become the central business district of Cheonan. The gallery itself showcases contemporary art from Korean and international artists. Organic works, including those painted with raw materials or organic substances (like fruit and vegetables) are the norm. The gallery’s stated mission is to provide a special place for people of all ages and background to easily view and learn about art. There is also an installation of Damien HirstDamien Hirst
Damien Steven Hirst is an English artist, entrepreneur and art collector. He is the most prominent member of the group known as the Young British Artists , who dominated the art scene in Britain during the 1990s. He is internationally renowned, and is reportedly Britain's richest living artist,...
's “Hymn” in a glass box constructed as a part of the building.
Sports
The city is home to two soccer clubs: Cheonan City FCCheonan City FC
Cheonan City is a South Korean soccer club based in the city of Cheonan. It was founded in 2007, and has competed in the National League since the 2008 season. The team plays their home games at the 30,000+ seat Baekseok Stadium, built in 2008, in Baekseok-dong in Cheonan...
of the National League and Cheonan FC
Cheonan FC
Cheonan FC is a South Korean soccer club based in the city of Cheonan. It is currently a member of the Challengers League, an amateur league and the third tier of league football in South Korea.-Current team squad:as of March 20, 2009...
of the K3 League
K3 League
The Challengers League is a top amateur football competition in South Korea. Created in 2007, it is the third tier of South Korean football league system-History:2007 was the inaugural season of the K3 League, and ten teams competed in the competition....
. Both play at the grand sporting complex in Buldang-dong, which is also open to the public for running, soccer, ultimate, and field sports. There are basketball courts, especially in the Ssangyong-dong area, as well as public tennis courts, and plenty of driving ranges for golf enthusiasts.
Food
Cheonan is known for small walnut-shaped and flavored cakes, or hodugwaja (호두과자), which are produced in the area. It is common when leaving from or passing through Cheonan StationCheonan Station
Cheonan Station is the main train station in central Cheonan, South Korea, and the junction of the Gyeongbu and Janghang Lines. It has also been served by Seoul Subway Line 1 since 2005.- References :...
by train to see many merchants selling hodugwaja.
Cheonan is also known for several agricultural products including grapes and ya pear
Ya pear
Pyrus ×bretschneideri, the Chinese White Pear , is an interspecific hybrid species of pear native to northern China, where it is widely grown for its edible fruit. Recent molecular genetic evidence confirms some relationship to the Siberian pear , but it can also be classified as a subspecies of...
s.
Festivals
Cheonan's most well-known festival is Heungtaryeong Festival(흥타령 축제). 흥 means pleasure and joy in the Korean language, and usually refers to Korean music.The dancing festival is the essence of the events from B-boy to traditional dances from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. Lots of teams also participate in the festival from 17 other nations such as China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
The festival started in 2003 and it got the position of "prepared" and "promising" in 2006 and 2007, respectively. As of Dec 26th of 2007, the festival was promoted to the degree of "excellent festival" or "우수축제."
On the 8th day of the 4th month of the Lunar Calendar
Lunar calendar
A lunar calendar is a calendar that is based on cycles of the lunar phase. A common purely lunar calendar is the Islamic calendar or Hijri calendar. A feature of the Islamic calendar is that a year is always 12 months, so the months are not linked with the seasons and drift each solar year by 11 to...
each year, Buddhists celebrate the first coming of Buddha. In Cheonan, local temples decorate their buildings and grounds with illuminated paper lanterns, and much of the city centre is closed to traffic for a parade followed by musical acts and a traditional drumming show. Koreans often dress in their Hanbok
Hanbok
Hanbok or Chosŏn-ot is the traditional Korean dress. It is often characterized by vibrant colors and simple lines without pockets. Although the term literally means "Korean clothing", hanbok today often refers specifically to hanbok of Joseon Dynasty and is worn as semi-formal or formal wear...
s, a traditional Korean costume, and spend the day with friends and family wandering through the pedestrian-friendly streets and lanes on the city core.
Transportation
The city is very well-connected to Seoul by road but also by train through two train stations. The first is Cheonan StationCheonan Station
Cheonan Station is the main train station in central Cheonan, South Korea, and the junction of the Gyeongbu and Janghang Lines. It has also been served by Seoul Subway Line 1 since 2005.- References :...
and the second, (served by the KTX high speed railway) is Cheonan-Asan Station
Cheonan-Asan Station
Cheonan-Asan Station is a ground-level train station located mostly in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, although part of it lies in the neighboring city of Cheonan. This station serves high-speed KTX trains that run from Seoul to either Busan or Mokpo...
. Different areas in Cheonan are also served by Seoul Subway Line 1, which began running between Seoul and Cheonan.
Economy
The local economy is fuelled to a great extent by tech sector companies in the area. Large national corporations such as SamsungSamsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
, LG Group
LG Group
LG Corp. is the second-largest South Korean conglomerate company following Samsung, and it is headquartered in the LG Twin Towers in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. LG produces electronics, chemicals, and telecommunications products and operates subsidiaries like LG Electronics, LG Display,...
, and several technology companies all have operations in Cheonan. The large number of universities also contributes to an influx of spending, as students from around Korea flock here for eight months of the year.
Administrative districts and divisions
Cheonan is divided into 2 gu, and 16 administrative dong (subdivided into 30 distinct legal dong), 4 eup and 8 myeon.The divisions of Dongnam-gu (Southeast) and Seobuk-gu (Northwest) are shown here:
Dongnam-gu
|
Seobuk-gu
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Population diversity
Even with scores of Korean students graduating from the many tech programs at local universities, the demand for tech sector employees is still very high, and much of that demand is filled by foreign employees. The city is now home to a large foreign population, which has tripled over the past 5 years. There are more than 9000 foreigners residing in the Cheonan area.In addition, Cheonan is the site of the prison exclusively intended for foreign prisoners, with more than 1 000 foreign inmates.
Sister cities
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See also
- List of cities in South Korea
- Geography of South KoreaGeography of South KoreaSouth Korea is located in East Asia, on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula jutting out from the far east of the Asian land mass. The only country with a land border to South Korea is North Korea, lying to the north with of border running along the DMZ. South Korea is mostly surrounded by...
- Stele of Bongseon HonggyeongsaStele of Bongseon HonggyeongsaThe Stele of Bongseon Honggyeongsa Temple was designated as the seventh National Treasure of Korea on December 12, 1962.The Bongseon Honggyeongsa Temple was built in 1021 during the reign of King Hyeonjong who built the temple in accordance with the wishes of his father King Anjong and because he...
, a National TreasureNational treasures of South KoreaThe National Treasures of Korea are a numbered set of tangible treasures, artifacts, sites, and buildings which are recognized by South Korea as having exceptional artistic, cultural and historical value...
located in Cheonan