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Asan

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Overview

Asan (아산,牙山) is a city in South Chungcheong Province in South Korea. It serves as the location of the oldest hot springs in Korea, Onyang Hot Springs.

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia1,056 words

WBP editorial3

Beyond the Baths: Asan’s Emerging Creative Quarter

While the thermal waters dominate Asan’s reputation, the city’s former industrial zones are quietly reshaping into a modest creative quarter. Small galleries and co‑working spaces have sprouted in refurbished factories near the Asan‑Suntae‑Eulji corridor, offering a platform for emerging Korean designers and visual artists. Weekends see pop‑up craft markets where locals showcase hand‑woven textiles and ceramics infused with the region’s earthy pigments. For the traveller keen on witnessing a city in transition, a stroll through this neighbourhood provides a glimpse of how post‑industrial South Korea repurposes space, blending the pragmatic with a growing cultural confidence that’s not yet on the typical tourist map.

Rail‑Connected Day‑Trip: Linking Asan with the Capital’s Subtleties

Asan’s proximity to the Seoul Capital Area is more than a geographic footnote; it’s a practical gateway for day‑trippers. The KTX line from Seoul to Cheonan passes through Asan, delivering a swift 30‑minute ride that lands you within the city’s compact centre. From the station, an easy bus or bike‑share ride brings you to lesser‑known riverside parks where locals practice tai‑chi at dawn. The real advantage lies in timing: travelling on off‑peak trains not only secures a seat but also opens up a quieter platform experience, where you can observe commuters swapping stories over regional snacks—a daily drama that adds texture to any short stay.

Culinary Micro‑Tour: Asan’s Farm‑to‑Table Noodles

Beyond the spa town image, Asan hosts a modest yet noteworthy noodle tradition rooted in its agricultural hinterland. Small family‑run eateries source wheat and buckwheat from nearby farms in the Chuncheon‑Myeongdeok plain, grinding the grain on‑site for fresh, hand‑pulled noodles. The broth, simmered with locally harvested radish and a hint of fermented soybean paste, reflects the region’s mild palate. Ordering a bowl during the cooler months pairs well with a stroll through the adjacent market, where you can watch vendors arranging seasonal pickles. This culinary loop offers a tangible taste of the city’s connection to the land, distinct from the more famous noodle scenes in Busan or Seoul.

Introduction

City in South Chungcheong, South Korea This article is about a city in South Chungcheong province. For the administrative district in Ulju County, Ulsan, see Onyang (Ulsan). Not to be confused with Asian (disambiguation) or Aslan. For other uses, see Asan (disambiguation). Municipal City in Hoseo, South KoreaAsan 아산시Municipal CityKorean transcription(s) • Hangul아산시 • Hanja牙山市 • Revised RomanizationAsan-si • McCune–ReischauerAsan-si FlagLocation in South KoreaCoordinates: 36°47′N 126°59′E / 36.783°N 126.983°E / 36.783; 126.983Country South KoreaRegionHoseoAdministrative divisions2 eup, 9 myeon, 6 dongGovernment • MayorGyeong Gwi Park (박경귀)Area • Municipal City542.25 km2 (209.36 sq mi) • Urban42.29 km2 (16.33 sq mi)Population (September 2024) • Municipal City353,603 • Density529.41/km2 (1,371.2/sq mi) • DialectChungcheongTime zoneUTC+9 (Korea Standard Time)Websiteasan.go.kr Asan (Korean: 아산; Korean pronunciation: [a.san]) is a city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. It borders the Seoul Capital Area to the north. Asan has a population of approximately 400,000. Asan is known for its many hot springs and is a city of spas. Asan has grown into the neighboring village, Onyang-dong, which is also known for its hot springs.

Climate

[edit] Asan has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dwa), but can be considered a borderline humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cwa) using the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm. Climate data for Asan (1995–2020 normals) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 2.6(36.7) 5.2(41.4) 11.5(52.7) 18.3(64.9) 24.1(75.4) 27.8(82.0) 29.8(85.6) 30.8(87.4) 26.5(79.7) 20.5(68.9) 12.6(54.7) 4.8(40.6) 17.9(64.2) Daily mean °C (°F) −1.9(28.6) 0.2(32.4) 5.4(41.7) 11.7(53.1) 17.7(63.9) 22.0(71.6) 25.2(77.4) 26.0(78.8) 21.1(70.0) 14.5(58.1) 7.3(45.1) 0.3(32.5) 12.5(54.5) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −6.3(20.7) −4.3(24.3) 0.2(32.4) 6.2(43.2) 12.6(54.7) 17.9(64.2) 22.0(71.6) 22.5(72.5) 16.8(62.2) 9.1(48.4) 2.4(36.3) −4.0(24.8) 7.9(46.2) Average precipitation mm (inches) 16.2(0.64) 23.4(0.92) 31.9(1.26) 64.5(2.54) 73.3(2.89) 105.7(4.16) 289.3(11.39) 273.8(10.78) 144.2(5.68) 46.9(1.85) 44.2(1.74) 19.5(0.77) 1,132.9(44.60) Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 4.6 4.1 5.3 6.9 6.3 6.9 12.7 11.8 7.9 5.0 8.1 5.9 85.5 Source: Korea Meteorological Administration

Transportation

[edit] The city of Asan shares a station for the KTX high speed trains with the directly adjacent city of Cheonan, which is thus named Cheonan-Asan Station. It takes about 30 minutes to travel from Asan to Seoul by the KTX train. It can be reached within 2 hours from Incheon International Airport by car. Seoul Metropolitan Subway extended one of its lines to service Asan on 15 December 2008. Two major highways, the Seoul-Busan and West Coast expressways, also pass through Asan.

Economy

[edit] It is the largest manufacturing base in Chungnam. Samsung Electronics' semiconductor division Onyang Campus, Samsung Display's Asan Campus (formerly Tangjeong Campus) and Corning Precision Materials are located in Tangjeong, and in Inju-myeon, Hyundai's Asan Plant and the surrounding Inju Industrial Complex are active in automotive manufacturing. Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor, as well as Hyundai Mobis, KCC, and Hanwha Group operate factories in Asan. In addition to these large factories, Asan is also home to many medium-sized companies, including Sindorico, HL Mando, Yusung Corporation, Nongshim, and Dongseong Pharmaceuticals. Agriculture is present, but its share has been declining over the years, and unlike its neighbours Cheonan, Seosan, Gongju, it does not have a standout speciality. Rice is the most prolific speciality, with sweet potatoes, potatoes, soybeans, wheat, barley, corn, Chinese cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, green onions, pears, grapes, and apples, and radishes, carrots, ginseng, and leaf tobacco are also grown, but not as much as the previous ones. The livestock industry is active due to the development of hilly terrain suitable for livestock farming, and as in other regions, there is a trend of increasing scale and professionalisation, with fewer small-scale livestock farmers but more animals. In terms of fisheries, fishing and salt-making used to take place along the coast of Asan Bay, but after the construction of the Asan Bay Sea Wall and the Sapgyo Creek Sea Wall, fishing gradually declined and salt-making disappeared. Today, inland fishing is mainly based on Asan Lake, and eel farming is carried out in Sinchang-myeon and Seonjang-myeon.

Places of interest in Asan

[edit] Blue Crystal Village: The Mediterranean village is located in Tangjeong-myeon. This place, which was first a vineyard, was created as a new village with the construction of an industrial complex. The white walls and blue roofs of Santorini, Greece, are intact, and create exotic landscapes based on the architectural style of European architecture.

Sport

[edit] Yi Sun-sin Stadium Asan is home of Asan Woori Bank Woori Won, a women's basketball team competing in the Women's Korean Basketball League. In 2016, the club was relocated from Chuncheon to Asan. K League 2 football club Asan Mugunghwa FC was based in the city from 2017 to 2019 before disbanding after the 2019 season. After the disbandment of Asan Mugunghwa, Chungnam Asan FC became the city's professional football club and plays in the K League 2.

Notable people

[edit] People born in Asan include: An Gyeong-ja (born 1950), volleyball player An Hye-jin (1998), volleyball player Bok Geo-il (born 1946), novelist and poet Seung-Hui Cho (1984–2007), perpetrator of the Virginia Tech shooting Queen Inseon (1619–1674), queen consort Jang Dong-min (born 1979), comedian Da Un Jung (born 1993), mixed martial artist Lee O-young (1934–2022), critic and novelist Lee So-young (born 1994), volleyball player Lee Young-ja (born 1967), comedian and television presenter Jhoon Rhee (1932–2018), taekwondo master Ri Ki-yong (1896–1984), novelist Ryoo Seung-bum (born 1980), actor Shin Su-jong (born 1988), swimmer Yun Chi-ho (1864–1945), political activist Yun Chi-sung (1875–1936), imperial general and politician; cousin of Chi-ho Yun Chi-oh (1869–1950), educator and politician; brother of Chi-ho Yun Yeong-ryeol (1854–1939), politician and soldier Seo Woo, actor Yi Sunsin, The city is home to Hyeonchungsa, a shrine dedicated to Admiral Yi Sun-sin, and recognizes him as a prominent figure representing Asan. Each year, the city hosts the Great Admiral Yi Sun-sin Festival to honor his legacy. Ryoo Seung-wan, A film director from South Korea. Yoon Bo-Seon, The 4th president of south Korea