View source for Cheonan

{{Short description|City in South Chungcheong, South Korea}}
{{About|the city|the naval ship|ROKS Cheonan (PCC-772)|the article about the sinking of this ship|ROKS Cheonan sinking}}
{{distinguish|Shōnan}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Cheonan
| native_name        = {{lang|ko|천안시}}
| translit_lang1     = Korean
| settlement_type    = [[Cities of South Korea|Specific city]]
| translit_lang1_type1 = [[Hangul]]
| translit_lang1_info1 = {{lang|ko|천안시}}
| translit_lang1_type2 = [[Hanja]]
| translit_lang1_info2 = {{lang|ko|天安市}}
| translit_lang1_type3 = {{nowrap|Revised Romanization}}
| translit_lang1_info3 = Cheonan-si
| translit_lang1_type4 = {{nowrap|McCune–Reischauer}}
| translit_lang1_info4 = Ch'ŏnan-si
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
 |border      = infobox
 |total_width = 280
 |image_style = border:1;
 |perrow      = 1/2/1
 |image1      = Sinbu-Dong.jpg
 }}
| image_caption      = Sinbu-dong
| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = Location in South Korea
| coordinates        = {{Coord|36|48|36|N|127|08|51|E|region:KR-44|display=it}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|South Korea}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Regions of Korea|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Hoseo]]
| population_blank1_title = Dialect
| population_blank1  = [[Chungcheong dialect|Chungcheong]]
| established_title  = Founded
| establisted_date   = 
| elevation_m        = 22
| area_total_km2     = 636.25
| population_as_of   = September 2024<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jumin.mois.go.kr/|title=Population statistics |date=2024|website=Korea Ministry of the Interior and Safety}}</ref>
| population_total   = 658,831
| population_density_km2 = 1,035.31
| government_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cheonan.go.kr/mayor.do/|title=cheonan mayor |date=2024|website=cheonan City }}</ref>
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Park Sang-don ({{Korean|hangul=박상돈|labels=no}})
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| parts_type         = [[Administrative divisions of South Korea|Administrative divisions]]
| parts              = 2 ''gu'', 16 legal ''dong'', 4 ''eup'', 8 ''myeon''
| image_flag         = Flag of Cheonan.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = Emblem of Cheonan
| website            = [http://www.cheonan.go.kr/EgovPageLink.do?link=/en/index www.cheonan.go.kr]
| image_blank_emblem = Cheonan logo.png
| timezone1          = [[Korea Standard Time]]
| utc_offset1        = +9
| timezone1_DST      = 
| utc_offset1_DST    = 
}}
'''Cheonan''' ({{Korean|hangul=천안}}; {{IPA|ko|tɕʰʌ.nan|-|ko-Cheonan.ogg}}) is the largest and [[Population density|most densely populated]] [[List of cities in South Korea|city]] of [[South Chungcheong Province]], South Korea, and the third largest city in the [[Hoseo |Hoseo region]] after [[Daejeon]] and [[Cheongju]]. Cheonan borders [[Gyeonggi Province]] ([[Pyeongtaek]] and [[Anseong]]) in the north, [[North Chungcheong Province]] ([[Jincheon County]] and [[Cheongju]]) to the east and southeast, [[Sejong]] to the south and [[Asan]] and [[Gongju]] to the west and southwest.

Cheonan has been called "the core city of [the] nation" due to its location {{cvt|83.6|km}} south of the national capital, [[Seoul]], in the northeast corner of South Chungcheong, serving as a [[transportation hub]] to the [[Seoul Capital Area]] and surrounding regions.<ref name=GeneralInfo>{{cite web |url=http://www.cheonan.go.kr/EgovPageLink.do?link=/en/sub/sub01/sub_05 |title=General Information - Cheonan |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=City of Cheonan |access-date=4 February 2015 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923221740/http://www.cheonan.go.kr/EgovPageLink.do?link=/en/sub/sub01/sub_05 |url-status=live }}</ref> Cheonan is connected to various [[Controlled-access highway|freeway]]s and [[railway]]s including the [[National highways of South Korea|National Highways]] 1 and 21, the [[Expressways in South Korea|Expressways]] [[Gyeongbu Expressway|1-Gyeongbu]] and [[Honam Expressway|25-Honam]], and the city's [[Korail]] station serves the [[Gyeongbu Line]] and the [[Janghang Line]], with services of the [[KTX]]. Cheonan is one of the furthest places from Seoul connected to the [[Seoul Subway Line 1]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://info.korail.com/2007/eng/eng_index.jsp |title=Korail Korea Railroad |access-date=2010-11-20 |archive-date=2012-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216195141/http://info.korail.com/2007/eng/eng_index.jsp |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==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 ({{ill|Charyeong Range|ko|차령산맥}}) that allows passage through to the major southeast centers of Daegu and Busan. Cheonan's Samgeori (meaning "3-way intersection") 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).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cheonan.go.kr/EgovPageLink.do?link=/en/sub/sub02/sub_02 |title=Tour & Leisure - Cheonan |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=City of Cheonan |access-date=4 February 2015 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923221744/http://www.cheonan.go.kr/EgovPageLink.do?link=/en/sub/sub02/sub_02 |url-status=live }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.postmuseum.go.kr |script-title=ko:우정박물관 |website=www.postmuseum.go.kr |access-date=2010-11-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117032058/http://www.postmuseum.go.kr/ |archive-date=2015-11-17 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref name=history>{{cite web |url=http://www.cheonan.go.kr/EgovPageLink.do?link=/en/sub/sub01/sub_02 |title=History - Cheonan |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=City of Cheonan |access-date=4 February 2015 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923221738/http://www.cheonan.go.kr/EgovPageLink.do?link=/en/sub/sub01/sub_02 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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. In 1975 the city renamed 10 branch offices to 10 dongs, representing the major administrative regions of the city.<ref name=history/> 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 Ssangbong-dong, also grew in population, and in 1995 Cheonan-gun and Cheonan-si were merged into one large Cheonan-si.<ref name=history/> Larger dong that comprised the city were subsequently separated into smaller factions, such as Ssangbong-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.<ref name=history/> 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.<ref name=GeneralInfo/>

==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), Heukseongsan (519m), 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 west is the city of [[Asan]], to the north are the cities of [[Anseong]] and [[Pyeongtaek]] in [[Gyeonggi Province]], to the south is the county of [[Sejong]] and the city of [[Gongju]], and to the east of the city are the counties of [[Jincheon]] and [[Cheongwon]] in [[North Chungcheong Province]].

Cheonan is growing as a gateway to Chungcheongnam-do and a city behind the Seoul metropolitan area, located 83.6 kilometers south of Seoul on the highway. Gyeongbu Line connects north and south, and Janghang Line connects to the southwest. Land routes connect to Seoul, Daejeon, Sejong, Gongju, Asan, Jincheon, Pyeongtaek, and Anseong.

===Climate===
Cheonan has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dwa''), but can be considered a borderline [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cwa'') using the {{cvt|-3|C}} isotherm. The climate is similar to that of neighboring [[Seoul]], [[Suwon]], or [[Daejeon]], and is considered temperate Eastern margin with periods of monsoon. Cheonan experiences a four-season weather cycle, with moderately high summer temperatures and moderately low temperatures and snowfall in winter.
{{Weather box
| location = Cheonan (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1972–present)
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y

| Jan record high C = 16.5
| Feb record high C = 22.2
| Mar record high C = 26.9
| Apr record high C = 31.2
| May record high C = 33.9
| Jun record high C = 34.8
| Jul record high C = 37.7
| Aug record high C = 37.8
| Sep record high C = 34.1
| Oct record high C = 28.7
| Nov record high C = 25.3
| Dec record high C = 18.5
| year record high C = 37.8

| Jan high C = 3.0
| Feb high C = 5.8
| Mar high C = 11.8
| Apr high C = 18.7
| May high C = 24.1
| Jun high C = 27.5
| Jul high C = 29.5
| Aug high C = 30.2
| Sep high C = 26.1
| Oct high C = 20.4
| Nov high C = 12.8
| Dec high C = 5.2
| year high C = 17.9

| Jan mean C = -2.4
| Feb mean C = 0.0
| Mar mean C = 5.3
| Apr mean C = 11.7
| May mean C = 17.5
| Jun mean C = 21.8
| Jul mean C = 24.9
| Aug mean C = 25.2
| Sep mean C = 20.2
| Oct mean C = 13.4
| Nov mean C = 6.5
| Dec mean C = -0.2
| year mean C = 12.0

| Jan low C = -7.5
| Feb low C = -5.4
| Mar low C = -0.8
| Apr low C = 4.9
| May low C = 11.4
| Jun low C = 16.8
| Jul low C = 21.2
| Aug low C = 21.3
| Sep low C = 15.2
| Oct low C = 7.4
| Nov low C = 1.0
| Dec low C = -5.1
| year low C = 6.7

| Jan record low C = -23.9
| Feb record low C = -19.9
| Mar record low C = -10.4
| Apr record low C = -5.2
| May record low C = 2.0
| Jun record low C = 6.9
| Jul record low C = 12.5
| Aug record low C = 12.1
| Sep record low C = 3.0
| Oct record low C = -4.3
| Nov record low C = -10.4
| Dec record low C = -18.7
| year record low C = -23.9

| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 19.0
| Feb precipitation mm = 27.0
| Mar precipitation mm = 38.3
| Apr precipitation mm = 67.5
| May precipitation mm = 78.7
| Jun precipitation mm = 127.0
| Jul precipitation mm = 284.1
| Aug precipitation mm = 299.7
| Sep precipitation mm = 146.4
| Oct precipitation mm = 55.5
| Nov precipitation mm = 47.6
| Dec precipitation mm = 27.9
| year precipitation mm = 1218.7

| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 7.4
| Feb precipitation days = 6.2
| Mar precipitation days = 7.4
| Apr precipitation days = 7.9
| May precipitation days = 7.6
| Jun precipitation days = 8.5
| Jul precipitation days = 14.1
| Aug precipitation days = 13.7
| Sep precipitation days = 8.8
| Oct precipitation days = 6.0
| Nov precipitation days = 9.1
| Dec precipitation days = 9.6
| year precipitation days =

| Jan snow days = 8.7
| Feb snow days = 5.3
| Mar snow days = 2.1
| Apr snow days = 0.1
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.1
| Nov snow days = 2.4
| Dec snow days = 7.2
| year snow days = 25.9

| Jan humidity = 68.5
| Feb humidity = 63.8
| Mar humidity = 61.1
| Apr humidity = 58.2
| May humidity = 62.3
| Jun humidity = 69.1
| Jul humidity = 77.2
| Aug humidity = 76.7
| Sep humidity = 74.0
| Oct humidity = 71.2
| Nov humidity = 70.0
| Dec humidity = 69.5
| year humidity = 68.5

| Jan sun = 167.2
| Feb sun = 178.4
| Mar sun = 211.6
| Apr sun = 221.5
| May sun = 241.5
| Jun sun = 207.3
| Jul sun = 160.5
| Aug sun = 184.0
| Sep sun = 179.8
| Oct sun = 204.8
| Nov sun = 159.2
| Dec sun = 155.5
| year sun = 2271.3

| Jan percentsun = 55.6
| Feb percentsun = 60.0
| Mar percentsun = 58.5
| Apr percentsun = 59.2
| May percentsun = 56.9
| Jun percentsun = 50.4
| Jul percentsun = 41.3
| Aug percentsun = 49.3
| Sep percentsun = 53.3
| Oct percentsun = 61.5
| Nov percentsun = 53.4
| Dec percentsun = 53.3
| year percentsun = 54.2

| source = [[Korea Meteorological Administration]] (snow and percent sunshine 1981–2010)<ref name= KMA>
{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129211110/https://data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/korea_pdf_0106_v2.pdf |archive-date=29 January 2022 |url=https://data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/korea_pdf_0106_v2.pdf |title=Climatological Normals of Korea (1991 ~ 2020) |publisher=Korea Meteorological Administration |access-date=4 April 2022 |language=ko}}</ref><ref name= KMAextremes>{{cite web |url=https://data.kma.go.kr/climate/extremum/selectExtremumList.do?pgmNo=103 |publisher=Korea Meteorological Administration |access-date=4 April 2022 |script-title=ko:순위값 - 구역별조회 |language=ko |archive-date=7 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007220002/https://data.kma.go.kr/climate/extremum/selectExtremumList.do?pgmNo=103 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name= KMAnormals>
{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207185450/http://www.kma.go.kr/down/Climatological_2010.pdf |archive-date=7 December 2016 |url=http://www.kma.go.kr/down/Climatological_2010.pdf |publisher=Korea Meteorological Administration |access-date=8 December 2016 |title=Climatological Normals of Korea |date=2011}}</ref>
}}

The average temperature in the city is 12.5&nbsp;°C, with a recorded high of 34.2&nbsp;°C and a low of -13.4&nbsp;°C.<ref>http://stat.cheonan.go.kr/contents/cheonan_graph/index.asp?MenuMod=12{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Symbols==
* City Tree: Weeping willow
* City Flower: Golden bell flower
* City Bird: Dove
* City Animal: Dragon

==Education==
{{See also|List of colleges and universities in South Korea}}
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)
* [[Baekseok University]]<ref>Located on the Baekseok College site, though it is a separate entity.</ref> (formerly Cheonan University)
* [[Cheonan Yonam College]]
* [[Dankook University]] (satellite campus)
* [[Hoseo University]] (satellite campus)
* [[Kongju National University]]'s Cheonan campus - College of Engineering (formerly Cheonan National Technical College)
* [[Korea Nazarene University]]
* [[Korea University of Technology and Education]]
* [[Namseoul University]]
* [[Sangmyung University]] (satellite campus)
* [[Sun Moon University]] (satellite campus)
* [[Soonchunhyang University]]

===High schools===
* [[Cheonan Ssangyong High School]]

==Cultural Infrastructure==
[[Image:Joabulsang.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Joabulsang bronzed Buddha.]]

===Museums===
The [[Independence Hall of Korea]] 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 {{convert|980|acre|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.i815.or.kr/EN/ |script-title=ko:Error Report - 독립기념관 |website=www.i815.or.kr}}</ref>

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 is 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.

===Temples===
Gagwonsa Buddhist temple is located on Mt. Taejosan. Located on the temple grounds is a large bronze sitting [[Buddha]], 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.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

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.<ref>[http://hcs.go.kr/ Official temple website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103095523/http://hcs.go.kr/ |date=November 3, 2010 }}</ref>

===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 [[Yeongnam]] 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.

===Galleries===
Arario Gallery, reopened in 2002, is an 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 Hirst]]'s "Hymn" in a glass box constructed as a part of the building.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arariogallery.co.kr/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021220094625/http://www.arariogallery.co.kr/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 20, 2002 |title=ARARIO GALLERY |website=www.arariogallery.co.kr}}</ref>

===Sports===
The city is home to [[association football]] club [[Cheonan FC]] of the [[Korea National League|National League]]. They play at the [[Cheonan Football Center]]. There are basketball courts, especially in the Ssangyong-dong area, as well as public tennis courts, and plenty of driving ranges for golf enthusiasts.

Cheonan is also home to a 26,000 capacity stadium called the [[Cheonan Baekseok Stadium]]. It hosted the South Korea national football team vs. Mali in October 2013.
[[File:Cheonan Hyundai Capital Skywalkers logo.png|thumb|Hyundai skywalkers]]
Cheonan is home to [[volleyball]] club [[Cheonan Hyundai Capital Skywalkers]]. Cheonan Yu-gwansun Stadium is their home ground. Now Cheonan is called "Volleyball metropolitan city" because of their popularity.

===Food===
Cheonan is known for small walnut-shaped and flavored cakes, or ''[[hodugwaja]]'', which are produced in the area. It is common when leaving from or passing through [[Cheonan Station]] by train to see many merchants selling hodugwaja.<ref>[http://www.chungnam.go.kr/content/universal/english/02/engl.02.002.jsp?&bmode=read&NBOARD_SEQ=44787 Chungnam Province Official Website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515020536/http://www.chungnam.go.kr/content/universal/english/02/engl.02.002.jsp?&bmode=read&NBOARD_SEQ=44787 |date=May 15, 2013 }}</ref>

Cheonan is also known for several agricultural products including melons, grapes and [[ya pear]]s.

===Festivals===
Cheonan's most well-known festival is Heungtaryeong Festival ({{Korean|hangul=흥타령 축제|labels=no}}). 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]], [[Africa]], [[Australia]], [[Ukraine]]. Many teams also participate in the festival from 17 other nations such as [[China]] and [[Japan]].<ref>Passion for dancing - United Globe(춤에 대한 열정… 하나된 지구촌) 대전일보 2007-10-12</ref>

The festival started in 2003 and it received the position of "prepared" and "promising" in 2006 and 2007, respectively. As of 26 December 2007, the festival was promoted to the degree of "excellent festival" or "우수축제."<ref>Yeonhap News 2007-12-26 Retrieved on 2008-01-26</ref>

To mark the historic March 1 Independence Movement,<ref>[[March 1 Movement|March 1st Movement]]</ref> characterized in Cheonan by [[Yu Gwansun]], each year a re-enactment of independence protests is staged at Aunae Marketplace. The popular 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 eighth day of the fourth 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.

==Transportation==
[[Image:2009-09-25 - Panorama of Fountains outside Cheonan Bus Terminal.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Cheonan Bus Terminal]]

The city is very well-connected to Seoul by road but also by train through two train stations. The first is [[Cheonan Station]] 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]].

==Economy==
The local economy is fuelled to a great extent by tech sector companies in the area{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}. Large national corporations such as [[Samsung]], [[LG Group]], [[Corning Inc.]], 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{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}.

==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 District]] (Southeast) and [[Seobuk District]] (Northwest) are shown here:

[[File:Map Cheonan districts.gif|thumb|400px|right|Cheonan Districts]]

{|
|-
| valign="top" |
'''Dongnam District'''
*Mokcheon-eup ({{Korean|hangul=목천읍|labels=no}})
*Pungse-myeon ({{Korean|hangul=풍세면|labels=no}})
*Gwangdeok-myeon ({{Korean|hangul=광덕면|labels=no}})
*Buk-myeon ({{Korean|hangul=북면|labels=no}})
*Seongnam-myeon ({{Korean|hangul=성남면|labels=no}})
*Susin-myeon ({{Korean|hangul=수신면|labels=no}})
*Byeongcheon-myeon ({{Korean|hangul=병천면|labels=no}})
*Dong-myeon ({{Korean|hangul=동면|labels=no}})
*Jungang-dong ({{Korean|hangul=중앙동|labels=no}}) (4 legal ''dong'')
*Munseok-dong ({{Korean|hangul=문성동|labels=no}}) (2 legal ''dong'')
*Weonseong-1-dong ({{Korean|hangul=원성1동|labels=no}}) (2 legal ''dong'')&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
*Weonseong-2-dong ({{Korean|hangul=원성2동|labels=no}})
*Bongmyeong-dong ({{Korean|hangul=봉명동|labels=no}}) (2 legal ''dong'')
*Ilbong-dong ({{Korean|hangul=일봉동|labels=no}}) (2 legal ''dong'')
*Sinbang-dong ({{Korean|hangul=신방동|labels=no}}) (2 legal ''dong'')
*Cheonglyong-dong ({{Korean|hangul=청룡동|labels=no}}) (5 legal ''dong'')
*Sinan-dong ({{Korean|hangul=신안동|labels=no}}) (2 legal ''dong'')
| valign="top" |
'''Seobuk District'''
*Seonghwan-eup ({{Korean|hangul=성환읍|labels=no}})
*Seonggeo-eup ({{Korean|hangul=성거읍|labels=no}})
*Jiksan-eup ({{Korean|hangul=직산읍|labels=no}})
*Ipjang-myeon ({{Korean|hangul=입장면|labels=no}})
*Seongjeong-1-dong ({{Korean|hangul=성정1동|labels=no}}) (2 legal ''dong'')
*Seongjeong-2-dong ({{Korean|hangul=성정2동|labels=no}})
*Ssangyong-1-dong ({{Korean|hangul=쌍용1동|labels=no}})
*Ssangyong-2-dong ({{Korean|hangul=쌍용2동|labels=no}})
*Ssangyong-3-dong ({{Korean|hangul=쌍용3동|labels=no}})
*Baekseok-dong ({{Korean|hangul=백석동|labels=no}})
*Buldang-dong ({{Korean|hangul=불당동|labels=no}})
*Buseong-1-dong ({{Korean|hangul=부성1동|labels=no}}) (4 legal ''dong'')
*Buseong-2-dong ({{Korean|hangul=부성2동|labels=no}}) (3 legal ''dong'')
|}

==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 9,000<ref>[http://www.korea.net/News/News/NewsView.asp?serial_no=20080519008&part=109&SearchDay= Korea.net news article, May 19, 2008]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8530836.stm |title=South Korea's foreigners' prison |date=23 February 2010 |via=news.bbc.co.uk |access-date=23 February 2010 |archive-date=26 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100226124033/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8530836.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in South Korea}}
Cheonan is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Sisterhood/International Relations |url=http://www.cheonan.go.kr/eng/sub02_05.do |website=cheonan.go.kr |publisher=Cheonan |access-date=2020-04-14 |archive-date=2020-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025090615/http://www.cheonan.go.kr/eng/sub02_05.do |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Beaverton, Oregon]], United States
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Büyükçekmece]], Turkey
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Shijiazhuang]], China
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Wendeng District|Wendeng, Weihai]], China
{{div col end}}

==Notable people from Cheonan==
* [[Kim San-ho]], South Korean actor
* [[Elly (rapper)|Elly]] (Real Name: ''Ahn Hyo-jin'', {{Korean|hangul=안효진|labels=no}}), singer, rapper, dancer, songwriter, producer, model and [[K-pop]] idol, member of [[K-pop]] girlgroup [[EXID]]
* [[Sung Han-bin]], [[K-pop]] idol, member of [[K-pop]] boygroup [[Zerobaseone]]
* [[Kim Tae-rae]], [[K-pop]] idol, member of [[K-pop]] boygroup [[Zerobaseone]]
* [[B.I (rapper)|B.I]] (Name: ''Kim Han-bin'',{{Korean|hangul=김한빈|labels=no}}), [[K-pop]] artist, singer and rapper, former member of [[iKon]]
* [[Yu Gwan-sun]], [[Korean independence movement|Korea independence]] activist against [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese rule]]
* [[Chul Ho Lee]], South Korean chef and entrepreneur

==See also==
* [[List of cities in South Korea]]
* [[Geography of South Korea]]
* [[Stele of Bongseon Honggyeongsa]], a [[National Treasures of South Korea|National Treasure]] located in Cheonan

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Cheonan}}
*{{wikivoyage inline|Cheonan}}
*[https://www.cheonan.go.kr/eng.do City government website]
*[https://cheonan.blogspot.com/ Cheonan resident-foreigner blog]

{{South Chungcheong}}
{{Metropolitan cities of South Korea}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cheonan| ]]
[[Category:Cities in South Chungcheong Province]]