Chungcheongbuk-do

Coordinates: 36°45′N 127°45′E / 36.75°N 127.75°E / 36.75; 127.75

North Chungcheong Province 충청북도 Chungbuk
忠清北道 Chungcheongbuk-do
Emblem of North Chungcheong
Map of South Korea with North Chungcheong highlighted
Government	Province
Capital	Cheongju
Governor	Lee Si-jong
Dialect	Chungcheong
Region	Hoseo
Area	7,432 km²(8th)
Population  (2005)
- Population	1,460,453 (8th)
- Density	196 /km²
Cities	3
Counties	9
Website	eng.cb21.net (English)
Metropolitan Symbols
- Flower	White Magnolia
- Tree	Zelkova
- Bird	Magpie

Chungcheongbuk-do (North Chungcheong) is a province in the centre of South Korea. It was formed in 1896 from the northeastern half of the former Chungcheong province. The provincial capital is Cheongju.

Geography

The province is part of the Hoseo region, and is bounded on the west by Chungcheongnam-do province, on the north by Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do provinces, on the south by Jeollabuk-do province, and on the east by Gyeongsangbuk-do. Chungcheongbuk-do is the only land-locked province in South Korea. The province is mostly mountainous, dominated by the Noryeong Mountains to the north and the Sobaek Mountains to the east.

It is also the only true landlocked province in the Republic of Korea.

Resources

Agricultural products includes rice, barley, beans, and potatoes, but the province specializes in ginseng and tobacco. The tobacco was introduced from the US in 1912, transplanted from Virginia.

There are mineral reserves of gold, iron, coal, steatite, fluorite, and molybdenum, as well as marble and limestone in the northern part of the province. Silk weaving plays an important role.

Attractions

The main attractions in the province are Mount Songni (1,058 metres (3,471 ft)) in the Sobaek mountains and its national park. Beopjusa, the site of one of the oldest temples of Korea is located in this national park, as in Guinsa, the headquarters of the Cheontae sect. There is another national park around Mount Worak.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Cities and Counties of Chungcheongbuk-do

Chungcheongbuk-do is divided into 3 cities (si) and 9 counties (gun). Each entity is listed below in English, hangul, and hanja.

Cities

Cheongju (청주시, 淸州市, capital)

Chungju (충주시, 忠州市)

Jecheon (제천시, 堤川市)

Counties

Boeun County (보은군, 報恩郡) Cheongwon County (청원군, 淸原郡) Danyang County (단양군, 丹陽郡)

Eumseong County (음성군, 陰城郡) Goesan County (괴산군, 槐山郡) Jincheon County (진천군, 鎭川郡)

Okcheon County (옥천군, 沃川郡) Jeungpyeong County (증평군; 曾坪郡) Yeongdong County (영동군, 永同郡)

Education

Chungbuk is the site of several tertiary institutions, including:

• Chungbuk National University
• Korea Air Force Academy
• Korea National University of Education
• Cheongju National University of Education
• Cheongju University
• Seowon University
• Semyung University
• Far East University
• Youngdong University
• Chung Cheong College
• Jusung College
• Daewon Science College

See also

• List of Korea-related topics

External links

• Chungcheongbuk-do provincial government English-language home page