Suncheon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Suncheon 순천시
Municipal City
Korean transcription(s)
• Hangul	순천시
• Hanja	順天市
• Revised Romanization	Suncheon-si
• McCune–Reischauer	Sunch'ŏn-si
View of Suncheon
Flag
Location in South Korea
Country	South Korea
Region	Honam
Administrative divisions	1 eup, 10 myeon, 12 dong
Area
• Total	907.43 km2 (350.36 sq mi)
Population  (November, 2022)
• Total	280,719
• Density	309.3561/km2 (801.229/sq mi)
• Dialect	Jeolla
Time zone	UTC+9 (Korea Standard Time)
Area code(s)	+82-61

Suncheon is a large city in Jeollanam-do, South Korea. In 2022, about 280,719 people lived there. It is located in the southeastern part of the province. Suncheon is known for its beautiful farms and growing industries. It also has popular places to visit, like Suncheon Bay. The city of Yeosu is about 40 minutes south, and Gwangyang is 20 minutes east.

Suncheon is growing fast because it is part of the Gwangyang Bay Free Economic Zone. This is a special area in South Korea that helps businesses grow. There are plans to combine Yeosu, Suncheon, and Gwangyang into one big city. This would use Yeosu's port, Suncheon's schools, and Gwangyang's large steel plant.

History of Suncheon

Suncheon has a long and interesting history. Here are some key moments:

• Ancient Times: It was part of the Mahan territory during the Samhan Era.
• Three Kingdoms Era: It became part of Baekje and was called Gampyeong-gun.
• Unified Silla Era: In 757, it was renamed Seungpyeong-gun.
• Koryeo Dynasty:
  • In 940, it was called Seungju.
  • In 1036, it was named Seungpyeong-gun again.
  • In 1309, it became Seungju-mok.
• Joseon Dynasty: In 1413, King Taejong created the Suncheon Dohobu.
• Late 1800s: In 1895, it was changed to Suncheon-gun.
• Early 1900s: On November 1, 1931, Suncheon-myeon became Suncheon-eup.
• Mid-1900s: On August 15, 1949, parts of nearby areas joined Suncheon, and it officially became the City of Suncheon. Other areas became Seungju-gun.
• Modern Era: On January 1, 1995, Suncheon City and Seungju-gun combined to form the Suncheon City we know today.

The Yeosu–Suncheon Conflict

In October 1948, a difficult event happened in Yeosu, Suncheon, and nearby towns. Some South Korean soldiers did not want to help stop an uprising happening on Jeju Island. This led to a conflict where some soldiers, police, and officials were harmed. The South Korean military quickly ended the conflict.

Exploring Suncheon's Tourist Spots

Suncheon is a great place to visit with many interesting sights.

Suncheon Garden Expo Korea

The 2013 Suncheon Garden Expo Korea was the first event of its kind in Korea. It showed how to develop green industries, like solar energy and eco-friendly gardens. The Expo also focused on protecting wetlands. Today, you can still visit the beautiful gardens, the arboretum (a tree park), and the wetland center. A monorail connects the Expo grounds to Suncheon Bay.

Peaceful Temples to Visit

Suncheon is home to ancient Buddhist temples.

• Songgwang Temple: This is one of Korea's Three Jewel Temples. It is a very important place for Buddhism. The temple was first built a long time ago, at the end of the Silla Kingdom. It has been rebuilt many times after being damaged. Today, it has 26 cultural treasures, including 17 national treasures. Monks from all over the world come here to study.
• Seonamsa: Located on Mount Jogye, Seonamsa is another historic temple. It was first built in the Baekje Kingdom. Seonamsa is known for combining different types of Buddhism from the Goryeo Dynasty. It also has 18 cultural treasures, including 7 national treasures.
• Cheonjaam, Ssanghyangsu: This is a very old and special tree, about 700 years old. It is a Chinese juniper tree with a unique twisted shape. Legend says it grew from a Buddhist monk's walking stick! It is a protected natural monument.

Historic Castles to Discover

Suncheon has two important castles.

• Nagan Castle: This is the only remaining Joseon-era castle in South Jeolla Province. It is very well preserved. Many festivals, like the Namdo food festival, are held here.
• Suncheon Japanese Castle: This castle was built by the Japanese during their invasions of Korea a long time ago.

Beautiful Mountains and Parks

Nature lovers will enjoy Suncheon's mountains and parks.

• Jogyesan: This mountain is where both Songgwang Temple and Seonamsa are located.
• Geumjeonsan: This mountain is north of Nagan Castle.
• Bonghwasan: This mountain is closest to the city center. It has Jukdobong Park, which offers a great view from its lookout pavilion.

Naganeupseong Folk Village

• Suncheon Bay Ecological Park: This park protects one of the world's largest tidelands. It has huge reed beds and is home to many types of birds. It was made a special preservation area in 2003.
• Suncheonman Bay National Garden: This large garden has over 790,000 trees. It was created to help protect the nearby Suncheon Bay.
• Goindol Park: This park has dolmens, which are ancient stone structures. The Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites are recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
• Suncheon Open Film Location: This is a special set built for movies and TV shows. It looks like Suncheon in the 1950s, and Seoul in the 1960s and 1970s. You can feel like you've stepped back in time!
• Naganeupseong Folk Village: This historic village shows what life was like in the Joseon Dynasty. It has a fortress, old government buildings, and traditional houses.

Interesting Museums

• The Deep-Rooted Tree Museum is near Naganeupseong Walled Town. It displays a collection from Han Chang-gi, who founded a famous Korean magazine. You can see artifacts from the Bronze Age to today, including old books, folk art, and traditional clothing.

Suncheon in Movies and Music

• Jorye-dong in Suncheon is the largest filming location in Korea that looks like the 1960s and 1980s. Many popular movies and dramas have been filmed here, such as Love & Ambition, You are far Away, and Giant.
• In 2021, the Korea Tourism Organization worked with famous hip-hop labels AOMG and Higher Music. They made a music video to show off Korea's attractions. Parts of the music video were filmed in Suncheon, showing how old traditions and modern life exist together in Korea.

City Slogans

Suncheon is called the City of Beautiful People by its city council. Its slogan is "Aha! Suncheon."

Sister Cities Around the World

Suncheon has special partnerships with cities in other countries. These are called twin towns or sister cities.

Famous People from Suncheon

Many talented people come from Suncheon, including K-pop idols, actors, and musicians.

• Kai (Kim Jong-in): A singer, rapper, dancer, and K-pop idol from the groups Exo and SuperM.
• Lee Seul-bi: A South Korean actress.
• Minhee (Kang Min-hee): A singer, dancer, and K-pop idol from the boygroup Cravity.
• Kim Ok-vin: A South Korean actress.
• Jun (Park Jun-hee): A singer, dancer, and K-pop idol, leader of the boygroup A.C.E.
• Hae Yoon (Park Hae-yoon): A singer, dancer, and K-pop idol, leader of the girlgroup Cherry Bullet.
• Hyunseung (Jang Hyun-seung): A singer, dancer, and K-pop idol, formerly of the boygroup Beast.
• Gongchan (Gong Chan-sik): A singer, dancer, model, actor, and K-pop idol from the boygroup B1A4.
• Chaeyeon (Jung Chae-yeon): A singer, dancer, model, actress, and K-pop idol from the girlgroup DIA and formerly I.O.I.
• Yoon Shi-yoon (Yoon Dong-gu): A South Korean actor.
• Miryo (Jo Mi-hye): A singer-songwriter, rapper, and K-pop idol from the girlgroup Brown Eyed Girls.
• Eyedi (Nam Yujin): A singer, songwriter, and actress.
• Kang Heodallim (Kang Kyeong-sun): A blues singer-songwriter.
• Park Gyeul: A South Korean golf player.
• Park Cho-seon: A female Pansori (Korean classical music) artist and poet.

Images for kids

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  View of Suncheon

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  Location in South Korea

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  Flag of Suncheon

See also

In Spanish: Suncheon para niños