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Suwon

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Suwon is a major urban center in South Korea. It serves as the capital of Gyeonggi Province. This province is the most populous in the nation. The city is located south of Seoul, the national capital.

Suwon Local Areas Map
Suwon Local Areas Map

Suwon sits within a basin-like landscape. It is surrounded by several low hills. These hills include Gwanggyosan to the north and Chilbosan to the west. The city is bordered by Uiwang, Yongin, Hwaseong, and Ansan.

The name Suwon literally means "water source." This name relates to the local geography and many flowing streams. Most streams in the city originate on the nearby mountain peaks. These include the Hwanggujicheon and the Suwoncheon. These waterways flow southward through the urban area. Eventually, they all empty into the Yellow Sea at Asan Bay. Because natural lakes are rare on the Korean mainland, Suwon uses reservoirs. These are man-made lakes used for water storage.

One notable example is the Irwang Reservoir. It is recognized as a world heritage site for irrigation.

Suwon's history stretches back to the early Bronze Age. Archaeologists have found ancient pottery and arrowheads in the region. The area was once part of the Mahan confederacy. Later, it fell under the influence of Goguryeo and Unified Silla. In 1310, the area officially received the name Suwon. A major change occurred in 1796 under King Jeongjo. He relocated the administrative center to the foot of Paldalsan. To protect the new city, he ordered the construction of Hwaseong Fortress.

Hwaseong fortress(Suwon)
Hwaseong fortress(Suwon)

This massive wall creates a unique radial urban structure. The fortress remains a major landmark today. In 2015, it received 1.5 million visits.

The city also experienced significant conflict during the Korean War. In 1950, the United States Air Force attempted to evacuate civilians. During this mission, US planes were attacked by North Korean fighters. This event became the first aerial combat of the war. The Battle of Suwon Airfield involved intense fighting. Suwon fell to North Korean forces one week later. The city changed hands four times during the entire conflict.

Janganmun in January 1951
Janganmun in January 1951
Wrecked North Korean tank on bridge south of Suwon HD-SN-99-03158
Wrecked North Korean tank on bridge south of Suwon HD-SN-99-03158
51st fighter interceptor wing at suwon, s.k
51st fighter interceptor wing at suwon, s.k

Today, Suwon is a massive economic engine for South Korea. It is home to Samsung Electronics. This is the country's largest and most profitable company. The company's research and development center is in Yeongtong District. Samsung's headquarters have been located there since 2016.

Starfield Suwon
Starfield Suwon

The company is deeply connected to the city's culture. Samsung partners with Sungkyunkwan University, which has a campus in Suwon. The company also owns the Suwon Samsung Bluewings football team. This team has won the K League four times. Other professional teams like KT Wiz and Suwon FC also play here.

Suwon Sports Complex Baseball Stadium
Suwon Sports Complex Baseball Stadium

The city's physical foundation consists of various types of rock. Much of Suwon is made of Precambrian metamorphic rock. Most of the area features biotite granite from the Jurassic period. This granite is centered around Paldalsan. Other areas contain Precambrian biotite gneiss. This rock is often dark grey or dark green. A single tectonic fault also runs through the city. This fault creates the Woncheonri Stream. It runs 15 kilometers in a south-southwest direction. This geological feature brings different types of rock into contact.

Suwon is a large and diverse metropolitan area. It has a population of approximately 1.2 million people. The city is divided into four main districts, or "gu." These are Jangan, Gwonseon, Paldal, and Yeongtong.

Suwon Local Areas Map
Suwon Local Areas Map

Yeongtong is the newest district, established in 2003. The city is well-connected to the rest of the country. It is served by three expressways and the national railway. The Seoul Metropolitan Subway also has three lines serving the area.

Suwon Station
Suwon Station

This infrastructure supports the many students at Ajou University and Sungkyunkwan University.

Sungkyunkwan University Samsung Library
Sungkyunkwan University Samsung Library
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🖼️ Images & Media (15)
File:Janganmun in January 1951.jpg
Janganmun in January 1951.jpg
File:Wrecked North Korean tank on bridge south of Suwon HD-SN-99-03158.JPEG
Wrecked North Korean tank on bridge south...
File:51st fighter interceptor wing at suwon, s.k.jpg
51st fighter interceptor wing at suwon, s.k.jpg
File:Suwon Local Areas Map.PNG
Suwon Local Areas Map.PNG
File:미륵당.jpg
미륵당.jpg
File:Sungkyunkwan University Samsung Library.jpg
Sungkyunkwan University Samsung Library.jpg
File:Hwaseong Fortress (175432293).jpeg
Hwaseong Fortress (175432293).jpeg
File:Hwaseong fortress(Suwon).png
Hwaseong fortress(Suwon).png
File:Suwon Hyanggyo.jpg
Suwon Hyanggyo.jpg
File:Myeongnyundang rear, Suwon Hyanggyo.jpg
Myeongnyundang rear, Suwon Hyanggyo.jpg
File:Suwon Sports Complex Baseball Stadium.jpg
Suwon Sports Complex Baseball Stadium.jpg
File:Starfield Suwon.jpg
Starfield Suwon.jpg

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