View source for Iksan

{{Short description|City in North Jeolla, South Korea}}
{{Redirect|Iri|acronyms|IRI (disambiguation)|the villages in Iran|Iri, Iran (disambiguation){{!}}Iri, Iran}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Iksan
| native_name        = {{lang|ko|익산시}}
| settlement_type    = [[Cities of South Korea|Municipal City]]
| translit_lang1     = Korean
| translit_lang1_type1 = [[Hangul]]
| translit_lang1_info1 = {{lang|ko|익산시}}
| translit_lang1_type2 = [[Hanja]]
| translit_lang1_info2 = {{lang|ko|益山市}}
| translit_lang1_type3 = {{nowrap|Revised Romanization}}
| translit_lang1_info3 = Iksan-si
| translit_lang1_type4 = {{nowrap|McCune–Reischauer}}
| translit_lang1_info4 = Iksan-si
| image_skyline      = Iksan - Young Deung Dong.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Main road in Yeongdeung-dong
| image_map          = North Jeolla-Iksan.svg
| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = Location in South Korea
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flagu|South Korea}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of South Korea|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{Flagcountry|Jeonbuk State}}
| population_blank1_title = Dialect
| population_blank1  = [[Jeolla dialect|Jeolla]]
| area_total_km2     = 507.07
<!--
| population_as_of        = Junuary 24, 2024
| population_total        = 269,429
| 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        = 267,604
-->| population_as_of   = March, 2022
| population_total   = 277,151
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iksan.go.kr/02en/about/facts/ |title=Welcome to Iksan City Hall |access-date=2010-01-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003101846/http://www.iksan.go.kr/02en/about/facts/ |archive-date=2008-10-03 }}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = 548
| parts_type         = [[Administrative divisions of South Korea|Administrative divisions]]
| parts              = 1 ''eup'', 14 ''myeon'', 12 ''dong''
| coordinates        = {{Coord|35|56|38|N|126|57|16|E|source:ruwiki_region:KR-45_type:city(334324)|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area_code          = +82-63-8xx
| image_flag         = Flag of Iksan.svg
}}
'''Iksan''' ({{langx|ko|익산}}; {{IPA|ko|ik̚.s͈an}}) is a [[Administrative divisions of South Korea|city]] and major railway junction in [[North Jeolla Province]], South Korea.

The city center and railway junction was formerly called "Iri" ({{korean|rr=Iri-si|hangul=이리시|hanja=裡里市}}), but merged with Iksan County (''Iksan-gun'') in 1995.

The railway junction is located at the point where [[Jeolla Line|Jeolla]] and [[Janghang Line|Janghang]]s meet the [[Honam Line]] and the [[Honam high-speed railway|Honam HSR]] and is served by frequent train service to/from [[Seoul]], [[Daejeon]], [[Gwangju]], [[Mokpo]], [[Jeonju]], [[Suncheon, South Korea|Suncheon]], and [[Yeosu]].

[[Jeonbuk National University]] Iksan campus (before, it was Iksan National College), the [[Won Buddhism Graduate School]], [[Wonkwang Health Science College]], and [[Wonkwang University]] are all located in Iksan.

This city is called "The City of Jewelry". The [[Iksan Jewelry Museum]] opened in May 2002 next to a Dinosaur museum.

In late November 2006, Korean authorities quarantined a farm in Iksan and began culling poultry and livestock within a 3-kilometer radius to contain an outbreak of the H5N1 [[H5N1|bird flu]] virus.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/Engnews/20061126/620000000020061126120016E6.html |title = Yonhap News |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070430062706/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/Engnews/20061126/620000000020061126120016E6.html |archive-date=30 April 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Local tradition includes the story of Seodong and Seonhwa, which was broadcast from 2005 to 2006 as "Sedongyo" and is also dramatized in the 'Paradise in Autumn Festival.'

Festivals with various themes are held in Iksan, all reflecting local history and culture. These include:

* 10,000,000 Chrysanthemum Festival (held in October/November) 
* Iksan Jewelry Expo 
* Seodong Festival 
* Stone Culture Festival

Anthem: Song of Citizens of Iksan

Iksan's population is 269,429 as of January 2024.

==History==
Iksan was once the capital of the ancient [[Baekje]] Kingdom. Temples built then are still standing. Iksan has always been an important transport center. After the [[Iri station explosion|Iri train station explosion]] in 1977, Iksan fell into a state of decline. However, the city's train station was later rebuilt, and it became the junction of three rail lines named above. It now services [[KTX]] and  Saemaul trains as well as frequent bus lines. Today, Iksan is once again a thriving city.

==Geography==
[[File:Iksan City 76 (17043094408).jpg|left|thumb|[[Mireuksaji Stone Pagoda]]]]
Iksan is situated on the Okgu and Keumman Plains, which lead to the West Sea [Yellow Sea]. As it is located very near the sea where ships can transport a wide variety of products, Iksan has served as a logistical and traffic center for a long time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iksan.go.kr/02en/ |title=Welcome to Iksan City Hall |access-date=2008-11-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081102204742/http://www.iksan.go.kr/02en/ |archive-date=2008-11-02 }} Iksan Official English Website</ref>

The city is in the northwestern part of Jeollabuk-do. East are the rugged mountains of Mt. Cheonho and Mt. Mireuk ([[Mireuksan (Jeollabuk-do)]]) at the edge of the Noryeong Mountains, and northwest the range of Mt. Hamra lead to a series of hills and a great stream that has formed the fertile Okgu plain to the west. Iksan borders Nonsan-gun and Buyeo-gun, Chuncheongnam-do, and is divided by the Keum-gang[river] in the north. It faces the Kimje Plains, divided by Mankyeong-gang, to the south.

==Transportation==
* Iksan Bus Terminal
The [https://web.archive.org/web/20140318112443/http://www.iksan.go.kr/01kr/iksan/traffic/03/index.jsp Iksan Bus Terminal] (익산종합버스터미널) provides daily bus service to most cities in South Korea.  Express buses to Seoul, Ansan, and Incheon are available.

* [[Iksan Station|Iksan Train station]]

==Culture==

===Museums===
* [[Iksan Jewelry Museum]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jewelmuseum.go.kr/|title=보석박물관|website=jewelmuseum.go.kr|access-date=2025-06-16|archive-date=2025-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250104110716/https://www.jewelmuseum.go.kr/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Mireuksaji Museum]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Mireuksaji Museum|url=http://www.mireuksaji.org|access-date=2013-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303182845/http://www.mireuksaji.org/|archive-date=2011-03-03|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Wanggung-Ri Relics Museum <ref>{{cite web|title=Wanggung-Ri Relics Museum English page|url=http://wg.iksan.go.kr/eng/home/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202234310/http://wg.iksan.go.kr/eng/home/|archive-date=2013-12-02}}</ref>[[File:Music fountain in Iksan Central Park.JPG|thumb|Music fountain in Iksan Central Park|143x143px]]

===Architecture===
* [[Mireuksaji Stone Pagoda]]

===Parks===
* Central Park(Chungang Cheuk Gongwon) 
* Seodong Park
* Gemma sculpture park

===Events===
* Iksan hosted the 99th National Athletic Meet in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=ko:익산시, 2018년 전국체전 개최지로, Iksan hosting a national athletic meet in 2008|url=http://www.munhwa.com/news/view.html?no=2014012801071443328002|access-date=2014-01-28|newspaper=[[Munhwa Ilbo]]}}</ref>

==Sister cities==
* {{CHN}} [[Zhenjiang]], [[Jiangsu]]
* {{DEN}} [[Odense]], [[Region of Southern Denmark|Southern Denmark]]
* {{USA}}, [[Culver City, California]]

==Notable people==
* [[Birdie Kim]], [[LPGA]] golfer
* [[Sunmi]] (born May 2, 1992), member of the girl group [[Wonder Girls]].
* Park Jeong Seung (stage name Jeongseung, born May 20, 2002), member of the boy group [[D-Crunch]].
* Kim Su A (stage name Baekah, born October 24, 1999), member of the girl group [[NeonPunch]] and the sub-unit XUM (Xumething Unlimited Move).
* Dino (birth name Lee Chan, born February 11, 1999), member of the boy group [[Seventeen (South Korean band)]].
* [[Park Jeong-woo|Park Jeong Woo]] (born September 28, 2004), member of the boy group [[Treasure (band)]].
* [[So Jung hwan|So Jung Hwan]] (born February 18, 2005), member of the boy group [[Treasure (band)]].

==See also==
{{Portal|South Korea}}
* [[Geography of South Korea]]
* [[Honam]]
* [[List of cities in South Korea]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Iksan}}
* [http://trans.iksan.go.kr/etgi/ City government home page]
* [http://www.iksan.go.kr City government home page] {{in lang|ko}}

{{North Jeolla}}
{{Metropolitan cities of South Korea}} 
{{Most populous cities in South Korea}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Iksan| ]]
[[Category:Cities in North Jeolla Province]]