Country South Korea Area 554.8 km² | Local time Wednesday 3:14 PM | |
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Weather 15°C, Wind W at 6 km/h, 39% Humidity Colleges and Universities | ||
Nonsan ([non.san]) is a city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. It is located at 36°12′N 127°5′E. Nonsan is also called Nolmoi, meaning dusk(y) or yellow mountain; "Nonsan" means rice paddies + mountain(s).
Contents
- Map of Nonsan si Chungcheongnam do South Korea
- History
- Transportation
- Economics and industry
- Higher education
- Secondary education
- Tourism
- Other
- Administrative divisions
- Sister cities
- Notable people
- References
Map of Nonsan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
History
Nonsan has a significant history. During the Samhan period, Nonsan is believed to have been part of Mahan territory. In the Baekje period, the district belonged to Hwangdeungyasan-gun. The crucial battle in which Silla defeated Baekje is thought to have taken place in the general area of Nonsan. Later, in the Silla period, Nonsan was divided into two different towns: Deogeun and Hwangsan.
The train station was built in 1911, in the same year as the rail line through the Nonsan plain was completed.
The modern city of Nonsan was established in 1914, by the merger of the four counties of Yeonsan-gun, Eunjin-gun, Noseong-gun and Seoksung-gun.
During the Korean War, a POW camp was set up by the U.S. and South Korean forces. On June 18, 1953, at the Nonsan camp as well as at POW camps at Busan, Masan, and Kwangju, thousands of POWs swarmed out of the camps and melted into the local population in order to avoid being repatriated to North Korea.
Transportation
Nonsan is served by the national railroad system and city, regional and national bus lines. An expressway connects the city to Daejeon and other cities. Many streets have bike paths, sharing pavement with sidewalks. The stream running through the city proper is not navigable, but downstream it joins the Geum River, and an outlying subdivision of the city serves as a significant fishing port.
Economics and industry
Nonsan is an agricultural city, with rice being the most important crop. Other important crops include strawberries, ginseng, napa cabbage, watermelons, and Korean pears. According to The Chosun Ilbo, the farmers are growing new varieties of strawberry produced in Japan without the producer's permission, while the JoongAng Daily says "Strawberries grown in Nonsan are of various types: seolhyang, maehyang, geumhyang, janghi (akihime) and yukbo (red pearl). The first three were developed in Nonsan while the latter two are from Japan. Janghi is the most commonly grown in Korea. However, seolhyang is the sweetest". Sesil [pronounced "say -shill"] company is the world's third leading producer of insects for natural pest control. The prominent yogurt company, Yakult, has its headquarters in Nonsan. Agro-Fisheries Trade Corp. is a regional supplier of food products.
The greater Nonsan area includes the ROK Army training center (36.125483°N 127.106697°E / 36.125483; 127.106697 (Nonsan Korean Army Training Center (논산육군훈련소))).
Higher education
Secondary education
Nonsan has a number of high schools, including a girls' high school, a technical high school, and two private schools which attract students from across the province and beyond. 쌘뽈여자고등학교 홈페이지
Tourism
Local attractions include the Eunjin Mireuk, a large standing Buddhist sculpture of the Goryeo period and its accompanying temple, Gwanchoksa, as well as the Baekje Military Museum 백제 군사 박물관.
Mireuk-bosal at Gwanchok Temple in Nonsan City, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea
The spring Strawberry Festival is popular tourist event as is the Ganggyoung autumn fermented seafood festival.
The eight famous spots in Nonsan include Gwanchoksa, the historic sites of General Gyebaek, Tapjeong Reservoir, Ssanggyesa (Temple), and Noseong Sanseong (Fortress).
Other
The city has a concert hall, where various cultural activities such as concerts and lectures are held. Konyang University's auditorium also hosts free cultural activities for the community.
In June 2011, the multipurpose culture hall Sangsang Madang was completed. It is dedicated to "indie art".
Donam Academy, one of the nine neo-Confucian seowon established in Korea during the Choseon dynasty, is in greater Nonsan. It was made a UNESCO provisional world heritage site in December 2011.
Administrative divisions
Nonsan City has jurisdiction over 2 eup, 11 myeon, and 2 dong.