Chungcheongnam-do

Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong) is a province in the west of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the southwestern half of the former Chungcheong province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea. The provincial capital is Daejeon, which is separately administered as a provincial-level Metropolitan City.

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.

Resources

One third of the province's area is under cultivation. Aside from agriculture, marine products are of importance. There are 220 square kilometres 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. In 1978 the Taean Marine National Park was opened. It includes some of the country's best bathing beaches.

Sejong City

In early 2007, the Republic of Korea government has decided to create a special administrative district out of part of the present Chungcheongnam-do Province, near what is presently Daejeon. The new district will be named Sejong Special Autonomous City, and is to replace Seoul as the future capital of the Republic of Korea.

Administrative divisions

Chungcheongnam-do is divided into 7 cities (si) and 9 counties (gun). The city and county names below are given in English, hangul, and hanja.

Cities

Asan (아산시, 牙山市) Boryeong (보령시, 保寧市) Cheonan (천안시, 天安市)

Gongju (공주시, 公州市) Nonsan (논산시, 論山市)

Seosan (서산시, 瑞山市) Gyeryong (계룡시, 鷄龍市)

Counties

Buyeo County (부여군, 扶餘郡) Cheongyang County (청양군, 青陽郡) Dangjin County (당진군, 唐津郡)

Geumsan County (금산군, 錦山郡) Hongseong County (홍성군, 洪城郡) Seocheon County (서천군, 舒川郡)

Taean County (태안군, 泰安郡) Yeongi County (연기군, 燕岐郡) Yesan County (예산군, 禮山郡)

Famous people

• Hero Jaejoong (Kim Jaejoong); a member of South Korean boy band TVXQ.
• Yesung (Kim Jongwoon); a member of South Korean boy band Super Junior

See also

• List of Korea-related topics

External links

• Chungcheongnam-do provincial government English-language home page