Ch’ŏnan

Ch’ŏnan, also spelled Cheonan, city, South Ch’ungch’ŏng (Chungcheong) do (province), western South Korea, south of Seoul. A transportation junction since ancient times, it is known by a famous folk song, “Ch’ŏnan-Samgŏri” (samgŏri meaning “three-way intersection”). The city is connected with the surrounding provinces by rail and road, and the Seoul subway system provides a further link between the two cities. Ch’ŏnan is the market centre for agricultural products (rice, barley, and vegetables) from the northern part of South Ch’ungch’ŏng province. The picturesque old Sŏngbul Temple (Seongbul-sa) is on the nearby mountain. The area around Onyang, a few miles to the west, has some of the country’s largest hot-spring spas and is the site of Hyŏnch’ung Temple (Hyeonchung-sa). Pop. (2010) 574,623.