Songtan

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Songtan
Hangul:	송탄
Hanja:	松炭
Revised Romanization:	Songtan
McCune-Reischauer:	Songt'an

Songtan is an area in the northern end of Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggido, South Korea. Songtan achieved city status in its own right in the 1980s, but was merged, along with Pyeongtaek County, into Pyeongtaek City in 1996. Most residents still consider it to be a separate city. The district has an administrative office which formerly served as Songtan City Hall. Songtan's best known feature is Osan Air Base, which spawned the growth of the area and is a major factor in the district's economy.

Songtan Station serves Songtan, and connects Songtan to Seoul and other cities via the Seoul Metropolitan Subway.

[edit] Osan Air Base

Osan Air Base is a forward deployed base of the United States Air Force. Osan City lies ten miles north of Songtan, but was the closest settlement of appreciable size when the base was built in 1951. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that Osan was chosen as the name because the names of nearby hamlets were difficult to pronounce. Osan hosts U.S. Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force units, with a small population of U.S. Army troops.

Immediately outside the base is a district with many bars, dance clubs, small shops, and restaurants. This area is commonly referred to as "the ville", "outside the gate", and "downtown" by the troops stationed on the base, but it is officially known as Sinjang-dong. There is a sizeable foreign population, American, Canadian, German, Filipino and Russian, residing in the immediate vicinity of the base. This area is renowned for its nightlife, with dozens of bars and dance clubs. On weekends the streets are crowded with both local residents, tourists, shoppers, and general partiers clogging the streets and enjoying the fesitve atmosphere. Though at one time famous for hostesses called "Juicy girls" plying drinks from the customers, most "ville" bars as of 2006 feature pool and darts as the main attractions. Dart and pool leagues are extremely popular among the local population. You will see Koreans and foreigners alike carrying pool sticks and darts around with them. There is also a growing music scene at bars that have local bands play on weekend nights. Aragon Alley is an especially popular section of this area. Many of the bars on this street are the most frequented by foreigners. You can always catch plenty of people sitting outside on that street no matter what the weather. There is also a popular restaurant that sells gyro sandwiches and shish kebabs on that street.

Small shops are also a large part of the Shinjang area. In 1996 a portion of the main street leading off Osan AB was remade into a pedestrian mall, the Shinjang Shopping Mall. Many Americans are eager to buy custom-made clothing at prices much cheaper than in the U.S. from the skilled artisans who line the mall. There are also leather workers and painters, and hanji shops which cater especially to the Americans. Americans are eager to haggle with the shop owners to obtain the best deal, and the shop owners are usually willing to do the same.

Some of the businesses are well known food chains like McDonalds, Subway, and Baskin-Robbins; however, most are small, individually owned shops, restaurants, and bars.

Many Songtan establishments accept US dollars as well as South Korean won.

[edit] Outside the base

Songtan grew southward and eastward from the base and is now a major bedroom community for Seoul and Suwon workers. Hundreds of large multi-story apartment buildings house these commuters.

Further away from the base authentic Korean towns are more prevalent, rather than what has been constructed to appeal to Americans. From the downtown bus station, buses run to Seoul, which is roughly one hour north. In 2005 the subway/train line from Seoul connected to Cheonan, with a station in Songtan. Songtan connects to many other cities; Osan, Suwon, or Seoul to the north; and Pyeongtaek, Cheonan, and Daejeon to the south. The newly built bullet train to Busan, the KTX, runs near Songtan, though the nearest stop on the KTX is in Cheonan.

[edit] Gallery

A view of one of the residential portions of Songtan	A Buddhist hall in Songtan	A pavillion found on the Buraksan hiking trail, a mountain on the outskirts of Songtan	Much business in this area is done in English
The Sinnjang shopping area and bars	This area of Songtan is frequently referred to as "Outside the gate" of Osan Air Base	A view of "Aragon Alley" where most of the establishments are bars, note the open door on the second floor.	The sign on the open door on the second floor. English- "Fall Danger", translation of the Korean: "Emergency Exit, Beware of Falling, Songtan Fire Marshall"
Traiditonal Korean music played through the streets of Songtan