South Chungcheong Province

Coordinates: 36°30′N 126°45′E / 36.500°N 126.750°E / 36.500; 126.750

South Chungcheong Province
충청남도
Province
Korean transcription(s)
 • Hangul 충청남도
 • Hanja 忠清南道
 • McCune‑Reischauer Ch'ungch'ŏngnamdo
 • Revised Romanization Chungcheongnam‑do

Logo
Country South Korea
Region Hoseo
Capital Hongseong
Subdivisions 8 cities; 7 counties
Government
 • Governor Ahn Hee-jung (Democratic)
Area
 • Total 8,204 km2 (3,168 sq mi)
Area rank 6th
Population (October, 2014)
 • Total 2,059,871[1]
 • Rank 4th
 • Density 235/km2 (610/sq mi)
Metropolitan Symbols
 • Flower Chrysanthemum
 • Tree Weeping willows
 • Bird Mandarin duck
Dialect Chungcheong
Website chungnam.net

South Chungcheong Province, or Chungcheongnam-do (Korean pronunciation: [tɕʰuŋtɕhʌŋnamdo]; abbreviated 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. In 2012, the provincial capital moved from Daejeon to Hongseong.

Overview

Chungnam is South Korea's richest province, with a 2012 GDP per capita of $56,133, a level of living standard higher than that of Norway and higher than the United States.[2] It is by far South Korea's fastest growing region, with an average GDP growth of 9.7% in 2001-2007[3] that accelerated to 12.4% in 2010.[4] Such rapid growth transformed it from a mostly agricultural to a highly industrialized economy in the 21st century.

Along with Gangwon, Chungnam is the only province outside the Seoul Capital Area to be served by the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, with Seoul Subway Line 1 passing Cheonan and Asan. Multimillion-dollar projects are being developed, such as New Asan City centered on the newly built Cheonan-Asan Station that connects Chungnam's largest city, Cheonan, to Seoul Station in less than 30 minutes via the KTX bullet train.

Geography

The province is part of the Hoseo region, and is bounded to the west by the Yellow Sea, to the north by Gyeonggi-do province, to the south by Jeollabuk-do province, and to the east by Chungcheongbuk-do province. Its area is 8,204 km2 as of 2012.[5]

Resources

One third of the province's area is under cultivation. Aside from agriculture, marine products are of importance. There are 220 square kilometres (85 sq mi) of exposed beach which is used to produce salt by solar evaporation. There is coal mining, but gold and silver mines are also found in Chungcheongnam-do, as is Monazite (a rare thorium bearing mineral) and zircon.

Attractions

At 845 metres, Mount Gyeryong is the most notable elevation. It is located in a national park which is noted for its unique rock features. Apart from the stone formations there are a number of old temples. These include Gwanchok-sa, a temple which is home to the largest stone Buddha in Korea.[6] In 1978 the Taean Marine National Park was opened. It includes some of the country's best bathing beaches.

Sejong City

Main article: Sejong City

In early 2007, the Republic of Korea government decided to create a special administrative district out of part of the present Chungcheongnam-do Province, near what is now Daejeon. The new district will be named Sejong Special Autonomous City, and was to replace Seoul as the future capital of the Republic of Korea. However, in 2009, it was determined that replacing Seoul as new national capital would violate the South Korean Constitution by Constitution Court. Now Sejong City may only serve as a National Administrative Capital and Secondary capital alongside Seoul, representing about 36 government ministers and agencies, including the Prime Minister's office, as of 2015.

Administrative divisions

Chungcheongnam-do is divided into 8 cities (si) and 8 counties (gun). The city and county names below are given in English, hangul, and hanja.

Dangjin
Map # Name Hangul Hanja Population (2013)[7] Subdivisions
— Specific City —
1 Cheonan 천안시 天安市 584,240 2 ilban-gu — 4 eup, 8 myeon, 18 haengjeong-dong
— City —
2 Asan 아산시 牙山市 283,121 2 eup, 9 myeon, 6 haengjeong-dong
3 Seosan 서산시 瑞山市 163,800 1 eup, 9 myeon, 5 haengjeong-dong
4 Dangjin 당진시 唐津市 156,026 2 eup, 9 myeon, 3 haengjeong-dong
5 Gongju 공주시 公州市 116,838 1 eup, 9 myeon, 6 haengjeong-dong
6 Nonsan 논산시 論山市 126,086 2 eup, 11 myeon, 2 haengjeong-dong
7 Boryeong 보령시 保寧市 105,355 1 eup, 10 myeon, 5 haengjeong-dong
8 Gyeryong 계룡시 雞龍市 40,997 3 myeon, 1 haengjeong-dong
— County —
9 Hongseong County 홍성군 洪城郡 89,174 2 eup, 9 myeon
10 Yesan County 예산군 禮山郡 85,626 2 eup, 10 myeon
11 Buyeo County 부여군 扶餘郡 72,959 1 eup, 15 myeon
12 Seocheon County 서천군 舒川郡 58,740 2 eup, 11 myeon
13 Taean County 태안군 泰安郡 62,519 2 eup, 6 myeon
14 Geumsan County 금산군 錦山郡 55,433 1 eup, 9 myeon
15 Cheongyang County 청양군 青陽郡 32,105 1 eup, 9 myeon

Religion

Religion in South Chungcheong (2005)[8]

  Not religious (50.8%)
  Buddhism (20.5%)
  Protestantism (19.6%)
  Catholicism (9.1%)

According to the census of 2005, of the people of South Chuchcheong 20.5% follow Buddhism and 28.7% follow Christianity (19.6% Protestantism and 9.1% Catholicism).[8] 50.8% of the population is mostly not religious or follow Muism and other indigenous religions.

Education

Twin towns – Sister cities

Chungcheongnam-do is twinned with:

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://rcps.egov.go.kr:8081/ageStat.do?command=month
  2. ↑ See List of South Korean regions by GDP.
  3. ↑ http://www.mt.co.kr/view/mtview.php?type=1&no=2009072818220114676&outlink=1
  4. ↑ http://www.index.go.kr/egams/stts/jsp/potal/stts/PO_STTS_IdxMain.jsp?idx_cd=1008&bbs=INDX_001
  5. ↑ 일반현황 (in Korean). South Chungcheong Province. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  6. ↑ Official Site of Korea Tourism
  7. ↑ "Population-Households". South Chungcheong Province. March 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  8. 1 2 2005 Census - Religion Results
  9. ↑ Sister/Twin Cities of Balıkesir
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