Ansan


Ansan is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It lies southwest of Seoul and is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Area. It is connected to Seoul by rail via Seoul Subway Line 4. It is situated on the Yellow Sea coast and some islands lie within its jurisdiction. The largest and best-known of these is Daebu Island.
Several higher learning institutions are located in Ansan. They include Ansan University, Shin Ansan University, the ERICA campus of Hanyang University, and the Seoul Institute of the Arts. The Korea Transportation Safety Authority, a government agency, has also been headquartered in Ansan since June 3, 2002. With its high number of foreign workers, Wongokbon-dong has been designated as a multicultural area. In 2021, Ansan was selected as the largest residential area for foreigners and it is seeking designation as a special multicultural city. Street play festival is held every year in Ansan.
WWW ansan.go.kr/www/main/main...

History

Ancient era

The first humans in Ansan were in the New Stone Age, and many shell middens and prehistoric remains were found at Oido, Sihwaho, Chojidong and Daebudo. In the Seonbu-dong and Wolpi-dong area, over 10 stone dolmen tombs could be found. Also in 1995, Old Stone Age relics were found while constructing the Seohaean Expressway. Most dolmens in Ansan are north dolmen, but the dolmen in Seonbu-dong are table-shaped and another table-shaped tomb was found in Hakon-dong, Gwangmyeong. There are many ancient relics found in the city.

Three Kingdoms and Goryeo eras

Not much evidence or antiquities survive from the Proto-Three Kingdoms and Samhan periods in Ansan and nearby areas. The Mahan confederacy in Chen Shou in Records of the Three Kingdoms preserves writings about the chiefdom state. Ansan was in communion with Baekje but very little has been saved.
In the Later Three Kingdoms era, the Ansan area was owned by Taebong in Silla Hyogong's 4th year. After then, Kung Ye, who was the ruler of Taebong, was overthrown by Taejo, and the Ansan area was turned over to Goryeo, founded by Taejo. First, the Kung Ye Ganggu-gun was changed to Ansan-gun but the state of the military was preserved.

Joseon era

Ansan belonged to Gyeonggijwa-do in the Joseon period. Taejo's 5th year, Ansan-eoso that is now under the direct control of a detached building of Saongwon was set up. After Gyeonggijwa-do and Gyeonggiwo-do were unified in Taejong's 2nd year, Ansan was still called Ansan. Under Taejong's 13th year, the whole country was detached into eight provinces.

Modern era

Until 1914, Ansan and the southern part of today's Siheung consisted of Ansan County. In 1914, Ansan County was annexed to Siheung County. This region produced high-quality salt from ancient times and valuable marine products. Ansan was then a fishing village.
In 1986, several towns of Hwaseong county became incorporated, representing the beginning of Ansan as a city. With currently over 600,000 residents, Ansan now has two distinct and separate districts: Danwon, which has 12 dongs as of 2009, and Sangnok, with 13.

Geography

Ansan is located in the southwest of Gyeonggi Province and is situated on the coast of the Yellow Sea, at. Portions of various Yellow Sea islands lie within its jurisdiction. The largest and best-known of these is Daebu Island, also known as "Daebudo".
Large portions of Ansan, over 100 sq miles, are reclaimed wetlands, part of the Saemangeum land reclamation project known as Ansan Reed Marshy Park.
Located at the south of the city are islands of Daebudo and Pungdo. On land, the city boundaries are marked by the town of Gunpo to the east of Ansan, Anyang to north-east, Siheung to the north and Hwaseong to the south.

Climate

Ansan has a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate with cold, dry winters and hot, rainy summers.

Demographics

According to the South Korean Ministry of Justice, Ansan's Danwon District is the district which has the largest foreign population in Korea, with 68,119 residents followed by Siheung, Hwaseong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Guro-gu, Seoul, Pyeongtaek, and Asan, South Chungcheong.

Transportation

Railway

The Ansan Line is a major rail line in Ansan and is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway as Line 4. Service connects from Oido to Jinjeop in Namyangju. The subway is also connected to the public bus system in Ansan. Previously, the first railroad in the city was the Suin Line which was opened by Korea under Japanese rule.
In mid-2020, the Suin Bundang line started operations, connecting Suwon and Ansan which expanded the living space in Ansan.
;*Seoul Subway Line 4
;; ← Banwol — Sangnoksu — Hanyang Univ. at Ansan — Jungang — Gojan — Choji — Ansan — Singiloncheon →
;*Seohae Line
;;Wonsi — Siu — Choji — Seonbu — Dalmi → → →
;*Suin–Bundang Line
;; ← Sari — Hanyang Univ. at Ansan — Jungang — Gojan — Choji — Ansan — Singiloncheon →

Future expansion

Currently, Seohae Line starts from Ansan to Sosa station in Bucheon. But the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is extended to Goyang through Gimpo International Airport station. It was planned to be completed by 2023 and extended Seohae Line officially opened on 1 July 2023.
The Shin Ansan Line will connect Yeouido to Ansan in 2024. It will take only 30 minutes from Yeouido to Ansan Also, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is considering extending to Seoul Station.
;;Hanyang University — Ansan City Hall — Jungang — Seongpo — Jangha — Mokgam → →

Bus

The near Ansan station provides daily bus service to Incheon International Airport and most cities in South Korea including Gimhae and Busan. Buses travel via Gimpo International Airport and Incheon International Airport. Express buses to Iksan, Dongdaegu, and Gwangju are also available. Near Sangnoksu station are buses going to Suwon station and Gangnam station. Ansan has 53 bus lines with 537 buses operating in and out of the city limits, connecting the city with Seoul and other outlying Gyeonggi cities. The Ansan transfer center also has express city buses, city buses, and intercity buses to link to Banwol industrial estate, Sihwa lake, and nearby cities.

Pedalro

Pedalro is a public bicycle system in Ansan. There are 101 Pedalro stations in Ansan. This is run on a membership basis. However, due to high cost for maintenance, Ansan discontinued the public bicycle service in 2021.

Public institutions

The Korea Transportation Safety Authority, a government agency in South Korea, is headquartered in Ansan. Other major institutions in Ansan include:

Administrative districts

The administrative district of Ansan is parted into 25 dong, 1187 tong, and 5884 ban. The extent of Ansan is 149.06 km2. The population standard was 281,829 households and 761,279 people at the end of 2012, of which the Korean citizen population was 715,108 with 43,465 foreigners recorded.
BoroughAdministrative dongHangul Chinese characterextenthouseholdpopulation
Sangnok District
상록구
常綠區		Il-dong일동一洞2.4111,21523,003
Sangnok District
상록구
常綠區		I-dong이동二洞2.4413,88422,466
Sangnok District
상록구
常綠區		Sa 1-dong사1동四洞2.3616,74939,594
Sangnok District
상록구
常綠區		Sa 2-dong사2동四洞3.6512,74036,395
Sangnok District
상록구
常綠區		Sa 3-dong사3동四洞3.687,14720,835
Sangnok District
상록구
常綠區		Bono-dong본오동本五洞6.4517,58943,811
Sangnok District
상록구
常綠區		Bono-2 dong본오2동本五洞0.8212,30033,038
Sangnok District
상록구
常綠區		Bono-3 dong본오3동本五洞1.19,99225,268
Sangnok District
상록구
常綠區		Bugok-dong부곡동釜谷洞6.228,83222,775
Sangnok District
상록구
常綠區		Wolpi-dong월피동月陂洞5.5417,39435,681
Sangnok District
상록구
常綠區		Seongpo-dong성포동聲浦洞1.79,76730,250
Sangnok District
상록구
常綠區		Banwol-dong반월동半月洞13.168,07716,574
Sangnok District
상록구
常綠區		Ansan-dong안산동安山洞8.363,84210,026
Danwon District
단원구
檀園區		Wadong와동瓦洞3.2319,37236,020
Danwon District
단원구
檀園區		Gojan-1 dong고잔1동古棧洞1.759,28224,548
Danwon District
단원구
檀園區		Gojan-2 dong고잔2동古棧洞1.879,65025,465
Danwon District
단원구
檀園區		Hosu dong호수동湖水洞2.4814,72342,346
Danwon District
단원구
檀園區		Wongokbon-dong원곡본동元谷洞8.1214,88449,007
Danwon District
단원구
檀園區		Wongok-1 dong원곡1동元谷洞0.954,39916,034
Danwon District
단원구
檀園區		Wongok-2 dong원곡2동元谷洞0.565,32317,058
Danwon District
단원구
檀園區		Choji-dong초지동草芝洞21.1617,72045,416
Danwon District
단원구
檀園區		Seonbu-1 dong선부1동仙府洞0.867,54416,880
Danwon District
단원구
檀園區		Seonbu-2 dong선부2동仙府洞2.0711,61927,390
Danwon District
단원구
檀園區		Seonbu-3 dong선부3동仙府洞5.8113,77437,439
Danwon District
단원구
檀園區		Dea-bu dong대부동大阜洞42.373,6147,384

Education

Ansan had Hyanggyo, nationally sponsored schools, throughout the Joseon period and Goryeo. Modern institutions of higher learning located in Ansan include Ansan University, Shin Ansan University, Seoul Institute of the Arts, and the ERICA campus of Hanyang University.
List of universities in Ansan:
There are 24 high schools, 29 middle schools, 54 elementary schools and 96 kindergartens in the city. Danwon High School in Ansan was particularly affected by the Sinking of the MV Sewol in 2014 as a large number of the passengers were students from the school, and city streets featured many ribbon memorials and other markers and ceremonies for the disaster. Ansan Seo Elementary School a.k.a. in Wongok-dong has a multicultural program with students from other countries, a rarity in South Korean education.

Economy

Because Ansan is a planned city built behind the Ansan Smart Hub following the government's industrial planning, the proportion of agriculture in the Ansan economy is very low. Meanwhile, as the government promoted a manufacturing industry plan in the Ansan area before Ansan was built, many people work in the manufacturing industry. There are two national industrial complexes, Banwol and Sihwa, as well as the local Banwol plating industrial complex.

Cultural institutions and heritage

In the past, Ansan had fewer attractions and a poor reputation due to its industrial and fishing roots, but the east side of the city has recently experienced several beautification projects. The canal systems which bisect the city have bicycling and walking paths, and are covered with roses, tulips, and cherry blossoms in spring. A community bicycle system sponsored by the city is also available for park access and riding. Nowadays, Ansan has many museums and galleries, such as the Ansan Culture and Arts Center, Seongho Memorial Hall, Danwon Sculpture Park, and Hwarang Public Garden. Ansan has run city bus tours for cultural heritage sightseeing since 2008.

Events

The Jet-mer-ri village deity is held every year in the Jet-mer-ri shrine to the village deity from 1984, and since 1987 the Beal-Mang-Sung art festival is held. Also, since 1991 the Danwon art festival and since 1996 the Sung-ho cultural festival is held. The Ansan Street Arts Festival is held in Ansan Culture Square in May since 2005. Other festivals in Ansan include:

Historical monuments and structures

Historical monuments and structures in Ansan include:
  • Ansan Town Wall
  • Byeolmangseong Fortress
  • Cheongmundang
  • Daebudo Island Charity Monument
  • Gosong Pavilion
  • Hong Jeonghui Gate of Filial Duty
  • Jaetmeori Local God Shrine
  • Korean Juniper Tree in Palgok-ri
  • Ojeonggak Pavilion
  • Sasechungyeolmun
  • Seonbu-dong Dolmens
  • Ssanggyesa
  • Tomb of Ahn Tandae
  • Tomb of Choi Hon
  • Tomb of Gang Jing
  • Tomb of General Choi Jeong-geoi
  • Tomb of Han Eungin
  • Tomb of Hong Cheoyun
  • Tomb of Jeong Eonbyeok
  • Tomb of Princess Jeongjeong
  • Tomb of Yi Ik
  • Tomb of Yi Inhyeon
  • Tomb of Yu Seok
  • Tomb of Yun Gang

Modern monuments and cultural institutions

Modern monuments and cultural institutions in Ansan include:
  • Gyeonggi Museum of Art
  • Ansan Botanical Garden
  • Ansan Cultural Center
  • Ansan Culture and Arts Center
  • Ansan Lighthouse
  • Ansan Sled Park
  • Choi Yong-sin Memorial Hall
  • Fishing Village Folk Museum
  • Gyeonggi English Village Ansan Camp
  • Olympic Memorial Hall
  • Seongho Memorial Hall

Parks and natural landmarks

Ansan is home to several parks, including:
  • Ansan Lake Park
  • Daebu Island
  • Hwarang Public Garden
  • Lake Sihwaho
  • Mt. Gwangdeoksan
  • Mt. Surisan
  • Nojeok Bong Park
  • Seongho Park
  • Seongpo Arts Square
  • Sihwaho Lake Reed Marsh Park
  • Marronniergongwon Park

Sports

Large and small stadiums have been founded from the 1990s on in Ansan. Major sports events in the city take place at the Ansan Wa~ Stadium.
The city was home to Shinhan Bank S-Bird Woman's Basketball Team. The team moved to Incheon in 2014. It was also a home to the now-defunct National League soccer club Ansan Hallelujah.
Ansan is also home to Ansan OK Financial Group Okman volleyball club. They are members of the V-League.
Ansan established a professional football team called the Ansan Greeners FC. In its first year, the team also received the "Plus Stadium" award and the "Full Stadium" award. At present, the Ansan Grinders FC has placed second.

Television series and films

Sister cities

Sister cities (foreign cities)

Sister cities (domestic cities)

Friendly cooperation cities

Mayors

  • 1st - Jeon Chang-seon
  • 2nd - Jang Ui-jin
  • 3rd - Lee Sang-yong
  • 4th - Lee Soo-yeong
  • 5th - Cho Gun-ho
  • 6th - Kim Tae-su
  • 7th - Choi Soon-sik
  • 8th - Song Jin-sub
  • 9th - Park Sung-gyu
  • 10th - Song Jin-sub
  • 11th - Park Joo-won
  • 12th - Kim Chul-min
  • 13th - Je Jong-geel
  • 14th - Yoon Hwa-seop
  • 15th - '''Lee Min-Geun '''

Notable people

Exchanges

  • Council of the National Multicultural City
  • Council of the National Lifelong Learning City
  • Metropolitan Mayor Nationwide Council