Bucheon

Bucheon 부천시
Special-status city
Korean transcription(s)
• Hangul	부천시
• Hanja	富川市
• Revised Romanization	Bucheon-si
• McCune-Reischauer	Puch'ŏn-si
City Hall
Emblem of Bucheon
Location in South Korea
Country	South Korea
Region	Sudogwon
Administrative divisions	3 gu, 37 dong
Area
• Total	53.44 km2 (20.63 sq mi)
Elevation	16 m (52 ft)
Population (April, 2013)
• Total	868,517
• Density	16,660.78/km2 (43,151.2/sq mi)
• Dialect	Seoul
Postal code	420010-428843
Area code(s)	(+82) 32
Website	www.bucheon.go.kr (English)

Bucheon is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Bucheon is a satellite city of Seoul, 25 kilometres (16 miles) away. This city is located between Incheon and Seoul. Manufacturing operations are located in the city.

Modern history

In 1914, outer areas of Incheon City (including former city centre of Gwangyo-dong of old Incheon) and Bupyeong County were joined together under the name Bucheon. In 1931, Gyenam township (myeon, 계남면) was renamed Sosa township (myeon, 소사면). In 1936, the westernmost part of Bucheon which were part of old Incheon (including the former Incheon city centre of Gwangyo-dong) was incorporated in Incheon City and in 1940 some other part of old Incheon belonging to Bucheon Country was incorporated in Incheon again while part of old Bupyeong was annexed to Incheon at the same time. In 1941, Sosa township promoted to eup (town) status.^[1]

January 1, 1963, when the great expansion of Seoul was implemented, several districts were combined to Yeongdeungpo-gu (영등포구) of Seoul Metropolitan City as below.^[2]

In 1988, two districts were established. Bucheon was divided into Nam-gu ("south", 남구) and Jung-gu ("central", 중구) along the Seoul-Incheon trainline. Present day Sosa-gu was formerly called Nam-gu.

In 1993, Bucheon's Jung-gu was separated into two further districts, forming Wonmi (원미구) and Ojeong (오정구) Districts.

Statistics

Administrative districts

Bucheon is divided into 3 gu.

Arts and education

Bucheon promotes itself as the cultural centre of the Seoul Metropolitan Area. The Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra is located there and an annual international film festival is held in July, called the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival or PiFAN.

Bucheon's institutions of higher education include: Bucheon College, Yuhan College, Catholic University of Korea Bucheon campus, and Seoul Theological University.

Shopping

There are a number of markets in Bucheon, including the traditional market that runs along the south side of Bucheon Station, and a smaller traditional market that is located between Songnae Station and Jungdong Station. Bucheon Station has an underground shopping center, a small Starbucks, and an E-Mart with a small Kyobo Book store on the top floor.

There are many department store. In the Jung Dong area there is a Lotte Department store (formally GS Square) with a HomePlus located just across the street. On the Jung Dong and Sang Dong cusp there are a number of shopping places including the Hyundai Department Store, E-mart, and UPLEX (formally known as "The Mall"). UPLEX has a CGV movie cinema. The main Bucheon intercity bus terminal is attached to a shopping center called Newcore and it has a grocery store called Kim's Club located on the ground floor. There is also a movie cinema called Primus (프리머스) located in Newcore. There is also a large HomePlus located beside Newcore with a Save Zone shopping center opposite it.

Songnae Station has a Toona Shopping Mall, which mostly sells clothing. Yeokgok Station has a Homeplus. There is also a Homeplus in Northern Bucheon, nearer to Bucheon Stadium.

Bars and restaurants

The busiest areas for bars and restaurants are located by Bucheon Station, Lotte Department Store (formally GS Square), and Hyundai Department Store.

There are a few foreign food restaurants and bars in Bucheon such as Nicolia (located in Jung Dong) and 2 bars near Hyundai department store called The Park and Rhythm and Booze.^[3] Both bars are popular with the local expat community and both have events to celebrate various foreign holidays. They both have pool tables and dart boards, live music, DJs, and sports events on TV.

There are also three Indian and Nepalese restaurants; Masala and Tandoor are located in Jung Dong near Hyundai Department Store and Annapurna located near Bucheon Station. And there are several restaurants which serve steaks, pasta and different kinds of western food in Jung Dong area. There are Ashley, Outback stake house, VIPs (located in the Uplex mall.) and seafood restaurant (near Newcore).

There are few local cafe or restaurants providing English menu, or clerks who can speak English. one of them is Cafe Mosaic,^[4] located near Bucheon University, famous with hand-made pizza and burgers with various drinks.

Transportation

Bucheon has an extensive bus network of local and area buses that connect the city to Seoul, Incheon and other surrounding cities. Bucheon Bus Terminal has buses connecting to different cities and provinces throughout the country. The Seoul Subway System Line 1 and Line 7 runs through Bucheon. There are currently eight stations within Bucheon City; Bucheon Station, Songnae Station, Kkachiul, Bucheon Stadium, Chunui, Sinjung-dong, Bucheon City Hall, and Sang-dong which continues through Incheon ending at Bupyeong Station.

Religion

There are a number of churches in Bucheon, including a Full Gospel Church near Lotte Department Store and the English-language "Bucheon Onnuri English Ministry" (BOEM)^[5] in Sang Dong. There is also a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints located a short ways north of Bucheon Station. Evangelism and mission is a key expression of Christianity in the Bucheon churches.

Notable people

Sakiroo, South Korean illustrator and character designer, was born and resides in Bucheon.^[6]

Sports

Bucheon is home to K League football (soccer) teams

• Bucheon FC 1995 - K League football

See also

• List of cities in South Korea
• Geography of South Korea
• Seoul National Capital Area

Twin towns – Sister cities

• Okayama, Japan; since 1981.
• Harbin, China; since 1995.
• Kawasaki, Japan; since 1996.
• Khabarovsk, Russia; since 2002.
• Valenzuela City, Philippines; since 2006.
• Bakersfield, United States; since 2007.

References

External links

• City government website
• bucheon at Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture

Gyeonggi Province Suwon (capital) Cities Ansan Danwon Sangnok Anseong Anyang Dongan Manan Bucheon Ojeong Sosa Wonmi Dongducheon Gimpo Goyang Deogyang Ilsandong Ilsanseo Gunpo Guri Gwacheon Gwangju Gwangmyeong Hanam Hwaseong Icheon Namyangju Osan Paju Pocheon Pyeongtaek Seongnam Bundang Jungwon Sujeong Siheung Suwon Gwonseon Jangan Paldal Yeongtong Uijeongbu Uiwang Yangju Yeoju Yongin Cheoin Giheung Suji Counties Gapyeong Yangpyeong Yeoncheon

Coordinates: 37°30′N 126°47′E / 37.500°N 126.783°E / 37.500; 126.783