Cheongju

Cheongju has been an important provincial town since ancient times. In the Cheongju Mountains, particularly in the area where Sangdang Sanseong is located, ruins dating from the Old Stone Age to the Bronze Age have been discovered.{{Cite book |last=Ch'a |first=Yong-gŏl |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9xgqAQAAIAAJ&q=Cheongju+Historical |title=Mountain Fortresses in Central Inland Korea: Sangdang Sanseong Mountain Fortress |date=2007 |publisher=Korea Fortress Academy |isbn=978-89-961732-2-9 |language=en}} Settlements associated with the Paleolithic Age have also been found in Cheongju, such as the Durubong Cave Site.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=The Beginnings of Korea's History (Prehistoric Times – Gojoseon) |url=https://www.korea.net/AboutKorea/History/The-Beginnings-of-the-Countrys-History |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=Korea.net |language=en}}

After the unification of the kingdoms by Silla in 676, various parts of Korea, including Cheongju, began to adopt Buddhism. This was influenced by the Silla culture's connection with the Silk Road, which facilitated the spread of Buddhism from Nepal across Northern China to the Korean Peninsula.{{Cite web |last=Sang-cheul |first=Choe |date=2002 |title=Creating Cultural Identity for Sustainable Urban Development A Case Study of the City of Cheongju in Korea |url=https://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/90613/1/1.Creating_Cultural_Identity_for_Sustainable_Urban_Development_A_Case_Study_of_the_City_of_Cheongju_in_Korea.pdf |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=Seoul National University}} During the Goryeo era, particularly during the reign of Gwangjong, several monuments related to Buddhism were created. Among them is Cheol Danggan, built in the year 962 in the center of the city near the remains of Yongdu Temple. Cheol Danggan is a flagpole used to hang the Dang flag, which is raised to pay tribute to Buddha.{{Cite web |last= |date=2017-06-01 |title=El proyecto de renovación de una plaza iluminará un asta medieval de una ciudad surcoreana |url=https://sp.yna.co.kr/view/ASP20170601002100883 |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=Yonhap News Agency |language=es}} It was listed as a National Treasure in 1962 by the South Korean government. In the Joseon period, the Cheongju region began to adopt Confucianism as its main religion.

Throughout the history of Cheongju, various temples were established during different periods in the history of the Korean peninsula. Examples include the Buddhist Yonghwasa Temple, dating back to the Goryeo period,{{Cite web |title=Stone Buddhas of Yonghwasa Temple, Cheongju |url=https://english.cha.go.kr/chaen/search/selectGeneralSearchDetail.do;jsessionid=uXDcBcWj923LA6UUGosFV8atSH8JaORzlGfkXaUeS5PKh4Eh4bvCWyoA4xjBPRg7.cha-was01_servlet_engine4?mn=EN_02_02&sCcebKdcd=12&ccebAsno=09850000&sCcebCtcd=33&pageIndex=137®ion=&canAsset=&ccebPcd1=&searchWrd=&startNum=&endNum=&stCcebAsdt=&enCcebAsdt=&canceled=&ccebKdcd=&ccebCtcd= |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=Cultural Heritage Administration}} and the Bulguksa Temple, established in the 8th century during the Silla Dynasty period.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/736/ |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |language=en}} Cheongju temples were also significant in the advancement of Korean printing, including book printing. One of the important documents printed in Cheongju was done so at Heungdeok Temple during the Goryeo Dynasty, specifically in the year 1377.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-31 |title=Oldest metal-printed book published in Korean, English |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/culture/2022/10/142_303352.html |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=The Korea Times |language=en}}

One of the first schools established in North Chungcheong Province was founded in Cheongju during 1896.{{Cite book |last=Hwang |first=Kyung Moon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hrbkCgAAQBAJ&dq=Cheongju+First+School+Province&pg=PA171 |title=Rationalizing Korea: The Rise of the Modern State, 1894–1945 |date=2015-12-29 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-96327-6 |pages=171 |language=en}} During the Baekje Dynasty period, several tombs were built around the city,{{Cite book |last= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MtFAAQAAIAAJ&q=Cheongju+History+Fortress+Temples |title=Traces of Jikji and Korean Movable Metal Types |last2= |first2= |date=2003 |publisher=Cheongju Early Printing Museum Press |pages=7 |language=en}} in addition to Joseon Dynasty period forts such as Sangdangsanseong, which served to connect the northern and southern provinces after the Japanese invasion of 1592.{{Cite web |last=Eun-yi |first=Lee |date=2020-11-10 |title=[Monthly Korea] Modern Charm Nested in a Time-Honored Fortress |url=https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=191605 |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=Korea.net |language=en}}

In 1593, the Battle of Cheongju took place between Japanese forces and the Joseon kingdom that then ruled the Korean peninsula during the Hideyoshi's Invasions of Korea, in which more than 8,000 Korean warrior monks participated.{{Cite web |last=Shields |first=Steven |date=2020-08-18 |title=[RAS Korea] Cheongju: a historical and cultural gem |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/10/177_294476.html |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=The Korea Times |language=en}}

The government of the province relocated here from Chungju in 1908. The opening of the Chungbuk-line in 1926 sparked regional development. In 1946, Cheongju and Cheongwon-gun were separated, and in 1949, Cheongju was made a city. Afterwards, it went through the separation of administrative dong and their transfer to Cheongwon-gun, with 2 branch offices (East and West) established in July 1989 that were upgraded to Sangdang District and Heungdeok District in January.[http://english.cjcity.net/about/history-01p.asp * Welcome to Cheongju-Si Homepage *] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623083613/http://english.cjcity.net/about/history-01p.asp |date=23 June 2006 }}

Cheongju experienced one of the largest population growths in Korea, having almost quadrupled its population from 147,000 in 1970 to 582,158 in 2000.{{Cite book |last1=Nadarajah |first1=M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jd2yAAAAIAAJ&q=%22It+is+one+of+the+most+rapidly+growing+cities+in+Korea+:+its%22 |title=Urban Crisis: Culture and the Sustainability of Cities |last2=Yamamoto |first2=Ann Tomoko |date=2007 |publisher=United Nations University Press |isbn=978-92-808-1125-4 |language=en}}

File:Stad Cheongju.jpg

Geum River goes through the center of Cheongju. Additionally, the tributaries of Musim and Miho flow together in the northern part of the city. To the east and west, there are the mountains of Wuam and Bumo. Musimcheon River also goes through the middle of Cheongju.

Cheongju is a temperate zone, so there are four seasons. The climate is a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dwa), but can be considered a borderline humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cwa) using the {{convert|-3|C}} isotherm.

{{Weather box

| location = Cheongju (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1967–present)

| single line = Y

| metric first = Y

| Jan record high C = 15.6

| Feb record high C = 22.1

| Mar record high C = 28.2

| Apr record high C = 31.3

| May record high C = 34.5

| Jun record high C = 36.3

| Jul record high C = 37.8

| Aug record high C = 39.1

| Sep record high C = 34.7

| Oct record high C = 30.6

| Nov record high C = 25.1

| Dec record high C = 19.3

| year record high C = 39.1

| Jan high C = 3.4

| Feb high C = 6.4

| Mar high C = 12.5

| Apr high C = 19.6

| May high C = 24.8

| Jun high C = 28.2

| Jul high C = 30.0

| Aug high C = 30.6

| Sep high C = 26.4

| Oct high C = 20.7

| Nov high C = 13.0

| Dec high C = 5.4

| year high C = 18.4

| Jan mean C = -1.5

| Feb mean C = 1.0

| Mar mean C = 6.5

| Apr mean C = 13.0

| May mean C = 18.7

| Jun mean C = 23.0

| Jul mean C = 25.8

| Aug mean C = 26.2

| Sep mean C = 21.3

| Oct mean C = 14.6

| Nov mean C = 7.5

| Dec mean C = 0.6

| year mean C = 13.1

| Jan low C = -5.8

| Feb low C = -3.8

| Mar low C = 1.0

| Apr low C = 7.0

| May low C = 13.1

| Jun low C = 18.4

| Jul low C = 22.4

| Aug low C = 22.6

| Sep low C = 17.0

| Oct low C = 9.4

| Nov low C = 2.6

| Dec low C = -3.7

| year low C = 8.4

| Jan record low C = -24.1

| Feb record low C = -26.4

| Mar record low C = -12.5

| Apr record low C = -4.8

| May record low C = 2.8

| Jun record low C = 7.9

| Jul record low C = 12.3

| Aug record low C = 12.7

| Sep record low C = 3.7

| Oct record low C = -4.3

| Nov record low C = -11.0

| Dec record low C = -20.6

| year record low C = -26.4

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 20.6

| Feb precipitation mm = 29.0

| Mar precipitation mm = 42.9

| Apr precipitation mm = 75.5

| May precipitation mm = 82.8

| Jun precipitation mm = 140.0

| Jul precipitation mm = 293.8

| Aug precipitation mm = 274.2

| Sep precipitation mm = 142.3

| Oct precipitation mm = 58.0

| Nov precipitation mm = 46.6

| Dec precipitation mm = 26.7

| year precipitation mm = 1232.4

| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm

| Jan precipitation days = 7.2

| Feb precipitation days = 6.4

| Mar precipitation days = 7.8

| Apr precipitation days = 8.3

| May precipitation days = 8.1

| Jun precipitation days = 9.4

| Jul precipitation days = 15.7

| Aug precipitation days = 14.0

| Sep precipitation days = 8.7

| Oct precipitation days = 6.1

| Nov precipitation days = 8.7

| Dec precipitation days = 8.8

| year precipitation days =

| Jan snow days = 9.1

| Feb snow days = 5.5

| Mar snow days = 2.8

| Apr snow days = 0.3

| May snow days = 0.0

| Jun snow days = 0.0

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.0

| Oct snow days = 0.1

| Nov snow days = 2.2

| Dec snow days = 8.5

| year snow days =

| Jan humidity = 63.5

| Feb humidity = 58.6

| Mar humidity = 55.6

| Apr humidity = 53.4

| May humidity = 57.7

| Jun humidity = 64.5

| Jul humidity = 74.2

| Aug humidity = 73.1

| Sep humidity = 70.6

| Oct humidity = 66.8

| Nov humidity = 65.6

| Dec humidity = 64.9

| year humidity = 64.0

| Jan sun = 166.9

| Feb sun = 176.9

| Mar sun = 207.6

| Apr sun = 220.0

| May sun = 238.8

| Jun sun = 196.5

| Jul sun = 150.1

| Aug sun = 173.1

| Sep sun = 176.4

| Oct sun = 204.1

| Nov sun = 160.6

| Dec sun = 161.0

| year sun = 2232.0

| Jan percentsun = 53.1

| Feb percentsun = 55.9

| Mar percentsun = 54.0

| Apr percentsun = 56.6

| May percentsun = 53.5

| Jun percentsun = 44.6

| Jul percentsun = 34.3

| Aug percentsun = 42.5

| Sep percentsun = 47.6

| Oct percentsun = 57.3

| Nov percentsun = 51.5

| Dec percentsun = 52.4

| year percentsun = 49.7

| source = Korea Meteorological Administration (percent sunshine 1981–2010)

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220129211110/https://data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/korea_pdf_0106_v2.pdf

| archive-date = 29 January 2022

| url = https://data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/korea_pdf_0106_v2.pdf

| title = Climatological Normals of Korea (1991 ~ 2020)

| publisher = Korea Meteorological Administration

| access-date = 4 April 2022

| language = ko}}

{{cite web

| url = https://data.kma.go.kr/climate/extremum/selectExtremumList.do?pgmNo=103

| publisher = Korea Meteorological Administration

| access-date = 4 April 2022

| script-title = ko:순위값 - 구역별조회

| language = ko}}

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161207185450/http://www.kma.go.kr/down/Climatological_2010.pdf

| archive-date = 7 December 2016

| url = http://www.kma.go.kr/down/Climatological_2010.pdf

| publisher = Korea Meteorological Administration

| access-date = 8 December 2016

| title = Climatological Normals of Korea

| date = 2011}}

}}

From 1 July 2014, Cheongju and Cheongwon County unified, and administrative districts were changed to the following:

• Heungdeok District ({{Korean|labels=no|흥덕구|興德區}}) West

Osong-eup, Gangnae-myeon, Oksan-myeon, Uncheon-dong, Sinbong-dong, Bokdae1-dong, Bokdae2-dong, Gakyeong-dong, Bongmyeong1-dong, Bongmyeong2-dong, Songjeong-dong, Gangseo1-dong, Gangseo2-dong, Ochang-eup

• Seowon District ({{Korean|labels=no|서원구|西原區}}) South

Nami-myeon, Hyeondo-myeon, Sajik1-dong, Sajik2-dong, Sachang-dong, Mochooung-dong, Sugok1-dong, Sugok2-dong, Sannam-dong, Bunpyeong-dong, Seonghwa-dong, Geasin-dong, Jookrim-dong

• Sangdang District ({{Korean|labels=no|상당구|上黨區}}) East

Nangseong-myeon, Miwon-myeon, Gaduk-myeon, Namil-myeon, Mooni-myeon, Joongang-dong, Seongan-dong, Top-dong, Deasung-dong, Yeongun-dong, Geumcheon-dong, Yongam-dong, Myeongam-dong, Sinsung-dong, Yongam1-dong, Yongam2-dong

• Cheongwon District ({{Korean|labels=no|청원구|淸原區}}) North

Nesoo-eup, Buki-myeon, Wooam-dong, Neduk1-dong, Neduk2-dong, Yoolang-dong, Sacheon-dong, Ogeunjang-dong,{{cite web|url=http://tonghap.puru.net/sub.php?menukey=2|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140503063408/http://tonghap.puru.net/sub.php?menukey=2|url-status=dead |script-title=ko:청원청주통합 홍보안내|date=3 May 2014|archive-date=3 May 2014}} Ochang-eup

The headquarters of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency,{{cite web|url=https://www.kdca.go.kr/cdc_eng/|title=Home|publisher=Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency|access-date=2025-01-10|quote=Osong Health Technology Administration Complex, 187, Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea}} - [https://www.kdca.go.kr/ Korean address]: "(28159) 충북 청주시 흥덕구 오송읍 오송생명2로 187 오송보건의료행정타운내" and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety are located in the Osong Health Technology Administration Complex.{{cite web|url=https://www.mfds.go.kr/eng/index.do|title=Home|publisher=Ministry of Food and Drug Safety|access-date=2025-01-10|quote=Ministry of Food and Drug Safety 187, Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea [28159]}} - [https://www.mfds.go.kr/index.do Korean address]: "(우) 28159 충청북도 청주시 흥덕구 오송읍 오송생명2로 187 오송보건의료행정타운"

• Sangdangsanseong (Sangdang Mountain Fortress) lies on the slopes of Mt. Uam within the city limits. The fortress is mainly a {{convert|3|to(-)|4|m|ft|adj=mid|abbr=off|-tall}} wall that stretches over {{convert|4.2|km|mi|1|abbr=off}} in circumference. The present walls date to the 1716 restoration of the site. Within the walls lies a small tourist village that has several restaurants.
• Cheongju National Museum also lies near Mt. Uam, and houses several exhibits of cultural artifacts from the nearby area.
• Heungdeoksa Temple Site is the home to the Early Printing Museum, and is to be the site of the printing of Jikji, the oldest existent book printed using movable metal type. The museum itself contains exhibits related to the art of printing through the ages.
• Yongdusaji Cheoldanggan (The Iron Flagpole of the Yongdu Temple Site) is designated Korean National Treasure number 41, and is located near Lotte Department Store in downtown Cheongju. Made of twenty iron cylinders, the flagpole stands {{convert|13.1|m|ft|1|abbr=off}} tall, and was formerly used to hang flags to honour the Buddha.
• National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art – Cheongju (MMCA Cheongju) which is scheduled to open in December 2018, will be the first museum in Korea to open its conservation center to the general public. Notably, MMCA Cheongju is being constructed within a renovated tobacco factory, which once played a major role in Korea's modern industry. The new building has been especially designed to use energy more efficiently and thus reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As such, the new museum will be a high-profile example of a project combining elements of urban revitalization and historical preservation.
• Chojeonghaenggung (Chojeong Temporary Palace) is a temporary palace where King Sejong stayed for treatment of an eye disease. It is said that King Sejong completed the creation of Hangul here. This place was destroyed during the Joseon Dynasty, and restoration work began in December 2017, and construction was completed in December 2019. It opened in June 2020. Also, Chojeong Mineral Water produced near here is quite famous carbonated water. It is known that King Sejong also tried to treat an eye disease with carbonated water produced in Chojeong. Chojeonghaenggung is located in Naesu-eup, Cheongwon District.

Cheongju International Airport provides scheduled flights within Korea and to other parts of Asia. The main train station is located at Ogeunjang approximately {{convert|8|km|abbr=on}} north of the city hall. This station is on the Chungbuk Line.

Cheongju Bus Terminal provides almost all of the bus lines to bus terminals located in other cities. Ticketing time is between 4:00 am and 11:40 pm.

Cheongju Express Bus Terminal provides some bus lines for Seoul (Gangnam, Sangbong, South Seoul, East Seoul, Busan, East Deagu, Gwangju).

In 2023, the Cheongju tunnel flooded during the annual monsoon which trapped 15 vehicles and resulted in at least 7 deaths and 11 reported missing.{{Cite web |title=Many dead in S Korea as flash floods trap 15 vehicles in tunnel |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/16/many-dead-in-s-korea-as-flash-floods-trap-15-vehicles-in-tunnel |date=2023-07-16 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}

Cheongju is the site of several tertiary institutions, including:

• Cheongju National University of Education
• Cheongju University
• Chungbuk National University
• Chung Cheong University
• Korea Air Force Academy
• Korea National University of Education
• Seowon University

The Cheongju International Craft Biennale is usually held in September or October.http://okcj.org/wp/|Cheongju{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} International public website

There is also the Osong Cosmetic and Beauty Expo.{{cite web

|url=http://eng.osongbeautyexpo.kr/site/expoeng/main.do

|title=Cosmetics & Beauty Expo Osong Korea 2013

|access-date=25 March 2014

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325043258/http://eng.osongbeautyexpo.kr/site/expoeng/main.do

|archive-date=25 March 2014

}}

{{clear}}

• Cho Sung-dal, footballer.
• Choi Eun-sil, basketball player.
• Choi Ji-hyun, short track speed skater.
• Choi Soon-ho, football manager and former professional football player.
• Han Hyo-joo, actress.
• Hwang Eun-bi (known as SinB), singer (Viviz).
• Im Jin-ah (known as Nana), singer, actress and model (After School, Orange Caramel).
• Ji Chang-min (known as Q), singer and dancer (The Boyz).
• Ji Min-hyuk, actor.
• Jun Hyo-seong, singer and actress (Secret).
• Kim Ji-woo (known as Chuu), singer (Loona).
• Kim Jung-eun (known as Kim Lip), singer-songwriter (Loona).
• Kim Joo-young (known as Jooyoung), singer-songwriter.
• Kim So-yeon (known as Kassy), singer and rapper.
• C. S. Lee, actor and comedian.
• Lee Jin-wook, actor.
• Lee Na-eun, singer and actress (April).
• Lee Seung-hee, ceramic artist.
• Lee Yi-kyung, actor.
• Moonbin, singer (Astro).
• Moon Sua, singer (Billlie).
• Moon Sang Min, actor.
• Na Young-seok, television producer.
• Park Cho-rong, singer-songwriter, actress (Apink).
• Shin Dong-woo (known as CNU), singer-songwriter, rapper and actor (B1A4).
• Yoon Dae-woong (known as Bigman), beatboxer, singer-songwriter and composer.
• Bae Ho-young (known as Hoyoung), singer and rapper (Verivery).
• Wonstein, rapper and singer.
• Yoo Hae-jin, actor.
• Lee Si-young, actress.
• Kim Kang-hoon, child actor.
• Park Bo-young, Actress from nearby Jeungpyeong County but attended high school in Sangdang District.

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Cheongju}}

• {{wikivoyage inline|Cheongju}}
• [http://www.cheongju.go.kr/english/index.do City government home page]

{{North Chungcheong}}

{{Metropolitan cities of South Korea}}

{{Most populous cities in South Korea}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in North Chungcheong Province