Ilsan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ilsandong-gu | |
Hangul: |
일산동구
|
Hanja: | |
Revised Romanization: | Ilsandong-gu |
McCune-Reischauer: | Ilsandonggu |
Statistics | |
Administrative divisions: | 10 dong |
Ilsanseo-gu | |
Hangul: |
일산서구
|
Hanja: | |
Revised Romanization: | Ilsanseo-gu |
McCune-Reischauer: | Ilsansŏ-gu |
Statistics | |
Administrative divisions: | 9 dong |
Ilsan is the name of two districts or wards (Ilsandong-gu, literally “Eastern Ilsan district”, and Ilsanseo-gu, literally “Western Ilsan district”) in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
Compared to Deogyang-gu, which makes up the rest of Goyang, the recently developed area of Ilsan-gu is more organized and planned, and its residents are generally more affluent. Ilsan is located northwest of Seoul. Like other satellite cities in the Seoul National Capital Area such as Bundang and Pyeongchon, Ilsan was planned in order to alleviate housing shortages in the city of Seoul. Ilsan has experienced phenomenal growth in the past 15 years; usually drawing in younger generations of upper middle-class Koreans.
The National Cancer Center of Korea is located in Ilsan. Ilsan is also home to Lake Park (호수공원), which is the largest man-made lake in South Korea.[citation needed] There are several recreational facilities such as biking, inline skating, walking, and a jogging trail that encircles the entire lake. Lake Park also features a cactus arboretum, botanical gardens, and a toilet museum. The area surrounding Lake Park is a large and sprawling commercial district, which include the Lotte Department Store, Grand Department Store as well as the huge La Festa shopping complex, which hosts hundreds of stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, and bars. The nightlife in La Festa is also evident as hundreds of young people can be seen and businesses are always bustling. Ilsan is also the site of an annual electric lights festival.
Jeongbalsan Park is located in the center of Ilsan, and it is a large residential park which features a large hiking hill with trails, a large Buddhist temple, some historical thatched roof houses and an outdoor gymnasium.
Ilsan is serviced well by lots of public transportation that constantly goes in and out of Seoul. Ilsan is served by Seoul Subway Line 3, also known as the “Ilsan line”, as well as various buses that go in and out of Seoul. A KNR commuter train also offers hourly service throughout Ilsan to and from Seoul Station (currently, no free transfers to the Seoul subway system).