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Suncheon

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Suncheon is the largest city in South Jeolla Province, located in the southeast of South Korea. As of 2022, the city had a population of 280,719 people. It is a scenic location that balances agricultural work with industrial development. The city is positioned near other important hubs. The port city of Yeosu is about forty minutes to the south. Gwangyang is located twenty minutes to the east. Suncheon is currently seeing strong growth because it is part of the Gwangyang Bay Free Economic Zone. This is one of three new Free Economic Zones being created in South Korea.

Naganeupseong Village 01
Naganeupseong Village 01

The history of Suncheon spans many ancient eras and changing names. During the Era of Samhan, it was part of the Mahan territory. In the Three Kingdoms era, it was a territory of Baekje known as Gampyeong-gun. During the unified Silla period, it was named Seungpyeong-gun in 757. In the year 940, during the Koryeo dynasty, it was renamed Seungju. It later became Seungju-mok in 1309. By 1413, Taejong established the Suncheon Dohobu. The name changed to Suncheon-gun in 1895 under the reign of Gojong. The city grew significantly when it annexed Seungju-gun in 1995 to become Suncheon City.

Religion and ancient culture are preserved in the city's famous temples. Songgwang Temple is one of the Three Jewel Temples of Korea. It was first built at the end of the Silla Kingdom as Gilsang Temple. It was later renamed Songgwang Temple during the Goryeo dynasty. The temple is a center for studying Korean Buddhist culture. It contains 26 cultural assets, including 17 national cultural assets. Another important site is Seonamsa, located on Mount Jogye. Seonamsa was originally called Biroam in the Baekje Kingdom. It is known for being a mixture of various Buddhist sects from the Goryeo dynasty.

Naganeupseong Village 01
Naganeupseong Village 01

Nature provides many unique landmarks for visitors to explore. The Suncheon Bay Ecological Park is the fifth largest tideland in the world. This area features large reed beds and many bird species. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries designated it a preservation zone in 2003. To help protect the bay, the Suncheonman Bay National Garden was established. This garden contains more than 790,000 trees. In 2013, the city hosted the Suncheon Garden Expo Korea. This event focused on green industry and sustainable garden development. It showcased technologies like solar energy and electronic transportation.

Suncheon also preserves the traditional lifestyle of the Joseon Dynasty. The Naganeupseong Folk Village is a historic site that shows how people lived long ago. It includes a fortress, government buildings, and private houses. Near this village, you can find the Deep-Rooted Tree Museum. This museum holds 6,500 articles, such as vintage literature and ceramics. These items range from the Bronze Age to the present era. The museum allows visitors to see ancient and modern Korean lifestyles side by side.

Naganeupseong Village 01
Naganeupseong Village 01

The city is a major center for the Korean film and television industry. The Suncheon Open Film Location in Jorye-dong is a massive filming site. It is the largest site in Korea that preserves buildings from the 1960s and 1980s. The set includes 200 houses covering 39,669.6 square meters. The village is divided into three different eras: the 1950s, the 1960s, and the 1970s. Many hit movies and dramas, such as "Giant," have been shot here. Even the Korea Tourism Organization has used these locations for music videos.

Finally, Suncheon connects to the wider world through its people and partnerships. The city council calls Suncheon the "City of Beautiful People." Its official slogan is "Aha! Suncheon." The city has several sister cities around the globe. These include Antalya in Turkey, Columbia in the United States, and Nantes in France. Many famous Korean celebrities come from Suncheon. This includes K-pop idols like Kai from Exo and various actors and singers. These connections show how a local city can have a global influence.

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File:Naganeupseong Village 01.jpg
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