Bucheon

Bucheon
부천시
Specific city
Korean transcription(s)
 • Hangul 부천시
 • Hanja 富川市
 • Revised Romanization Bucheon-si
 • McCune-Reischauer Puch'ŏn-si
City Hall

Emblem of Bucheon
Country  South Korea
Region Sudogwon
Administrative divisions 36 dong
Area
 • Total 53.44 km2 (20.63 sq mi)
Elevation 16 m (52 ft)
Population (July 31, 2016)
 • Total 848,123
 • Density 16,660.78/km2 (43,151.2/sq mi)
 • Dialect Gyeonggi
Postal code 14400-14899
Area code(s) (+82) 32
Website www.Bucheon.go.kr (in English)

Bucheon (Korean pronunciation: [pu.tɕʰʌn]) is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Bucheon is a satellite city of Seoul,[1] 25 kilometres (16 miles) away. This city is located between Incheon and Seoul.

Bucheon is the second most densely populated city in South Korea after Seoul,[2] and as a result, administrative districts were abolished in July 2016 in favor of providing greater public service in community centers.[2]

Major manufacturing operations are located in the northern areas of the city, while the areas in the south where Seoul Subway Line 7 and Seoul Subway Line 1 pass are dense commercial and residential areas.

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.[3]

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.[4]

Old districtsNew districts
Ojeong-myeonOgok-ri and Osoe-riYeongdeungpo-gu, SeoulOgok-ri, Osoe-ri, Hang-ri, Onsu-ri, Gung-ri, Cheonwang-ri, Oryu-ri, Gaebong-ri and Gocheok-ri
Sosa-eupHang-ri, Onsu-ri, Gung-ri, Cheonwang-ri, Oryu-ri, Gaebong-ri and Gocheok-ri

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.

The three districts were abolished in July 2016 as Bucheon decided to become a unified city without any administrative districts.[5]

Statistics

Arts and education

Bucheon promotes itself as the cultural centre of the Seoul Metropolitan Area. The Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra is located there, an annual international film festival is held in July called the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival or BiFan, and an annual international bboy competition called Bucheon Bboy International Championship (BBIC) held by Jinjo Crew since 2016.

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

The city was designated "City of Literature" and has been a member of UNESCO Creative Cities Network since 2017.[6]

Festival

  • Bucheon Aiins World festival - The miniature theme park Aiins World is hosting the World Nightview Fantasy Lighting Festival. There are famous buildings like the Eiffel Tower in France. The festival runs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. all year long, and is closed on rainy days. The last admission is at 10 p.m.[7]
  • Bucheon Bboy International Championship (BBIC) - An international bboy competition held by world-famous bboy crew called Jinjo.
Year Winner Runner Up Semi Finalists Quarter Finalists
2016South Korea GamblerzJapan Body CarnivalSouth Korea Drifterz, United States Knucklehead ZooUnited Nations Red Bull BC One All-Stars, Russia Predatorz, China Skechers, Netherlands The Ruggeds
2017France VagabondsUnited Nations Red Bull BC One All-StarsJapan Flooriorz, South Korea GamblerzPoland Polskee Flavour, China Team China, South Korea K-Rookiez, Ukraine Navi
2018European Union Team EuropeUnited Nations Red Bull BC One All-StarsSouth Korea Fusion MC, China Bboy World AsiaNetherlands Hustle Kidz, Finland Flow Mo, Japan Body Carnival, United States Monster Bboys

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 stores. 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.[8] 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 steak 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,[9] located near Bucheon University, famous with hand-made pizza and burgers with various drinks.

Transportation

Map of Seoul Metro lines passing through Bucheon over its municipal districts

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 five stations in Seoul Subway Line Line 1 within Bucheon City, including Bucheon Station and Songnae Station, and seven stations in the Line 7, including Kkachiul, Bucheon Stadium, Chunui, Sinjung-dong, Bucheon City Hall, and Sang-dong, which continues through Incheon ending at Bupyeong Station.

Bucheon has currently two subway lines under construction. The Sosa-Wonsi Line will open in 2018, connecting Bucheon's Sosa Station of the Line 1 with Ansan's Choji Station of Seoul Subway Line 4. The Daegok-Sosa Line will open in 2021, connecting with the Sosa-Wonsi Line as a single line. It will provide subway service in the northern area of Bucheon and connect the city to Gimpo International Airport Station where transfers to Seoul Subway Line 5, Seoul Subway Line 9, AREX and Gimpo Goldline will be available. The line terminates at Daegok Station in Goyang, which offers a transfer to Seoul Subway Line 3 and Gyeongui-Jungang Line.

In addition, the city is getting a completely new subway line in the future which will connect Bucheon's northern Wonjeong area to Hongik University Station.[10]

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)[11] 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

Sports

Bucheon is home to the K League Challenge football team Bucheon FC 1995.

See also

Twin towns – sister cities

References

  1. ↑ Hae Un Rii, Jae-Seob Ahn. Ian Douglas, Shu-Li Huang, ed. 3.Urbanization and its Impact on Seoul, Korea (pdf). Urbanization, East Asia and Habitat II. Taiwan NGO Professionalization Watch. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  2. 1 2 헤럴드경제 (16 May 2016). "부천시, 상동 영상단지 내 초대형 신세계 복합쇼핑몰 건립 '논란'… 시민단체 '반발'".
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2004-12-14. Retrieved 2008-01-14. Official page of Bucheon city(Korean)
  4. ↑ Alteration of regions concerning Seoul, provinces, counties and districts(1962-11-21)
  5. ↑ "부천시 '구 폐지' 효과 벌써 벤치마킹". 13 July 2016.
  6. ↑ "Bucheon becomes UNESCO City of Literature". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
  7. ↑ Herald, The Korea (2018-06-01). "[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea". Retrieved 2018-06-03.
  8. ↑ http://www.eatyourkimchi.com/bucheons-rhythm-and-booze/ Video Blog Directions to and Review of Rhythm and Booze
  9. ↑ Blog: http://bcmosaic.blog.me
  10. ↑ "국토부, 부천 원종~서울 홍대입구 광역철도 최종 확정". 21 June 2016.
  11. ↑ "BOEM". BOEM.
  12. ↑ "Sakiroo 'Lemon's Origin'" (in Korean). Monthly Digital Insight. July 7, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2014.

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

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