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
Flag
Coordinates: 37°30′N 126°47′E
Country	South Korea
Region	Gyeonggi Province (Sudogwon)
Administrative divisions	10 dong
Government
• Mayor	Cho Yong-ik (Democratic)
Area
• Total	53.44 km^2 (20.63 sq mi)
Elevation	16 m (52 ft)
Population  (September 2024[1])
• Total	772,450
• Density	16,660.78/km^2 (43,151.2/sq mi)
• Dialect	Gyeonggi
Postal code	14400-14899
Area code	(+82)-32-6xx
Website	www.Bucheon.go.kr (in English)

Bucheon (Korean: 부천; Korean pronunciation: [pu.tɕʰʌn]) is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Bucheon is located 25 kilometers (16 mi) away from Seoul, of which it is a satellite city.^[2] It is located between Incheon and Seoul.

Bucheon is the second most densely populated city in South Korea after Seoul,^[3] and as a result, administrative districts were abolished in July 2016 in favor of providing greater public service in community centers.^[3]

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.

History

In 1914, the outer areas of Incheon (including Gwangyo-dong, old Incheon's city center) and Bupyeong County were joined under the name Bucheon. In 1931, Gyenam township (myeon, 계남면) was renamed Sosa township (myeon, 소사면). In 1936, the westernmost part of Bucheon, then part of old Incheon, was incorporated in Incheon 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.^[4]

On January 1, 1963, when the great expansion of Seoul was implemented, several districts were combined to Yeongdeungpo District of Seoul as below.^[5]

Old districts	New districts
Ojeong-myeon	Ogok-ri and Osoe-ri	Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul	Ogok-ri, Osoe-ri, Hang-ri, Onsu-ri, Gung-ri, Cheonwang-ri, Oryu-ri, Gaebong-ri and Gocheok-ri
Sosa-eup	Hang-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.^[6] However, on January 1, 2024, the Bucheon municipal government decided to return the three districts, along with the creation of 37 new administrative districts (or dongs).^[7]

Neighborhoods of Bucheon (as of 2019)

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 part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network since 2017.^[8]

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.^[9]
• Bucheon B-Boy International Championship (BBIC) - An international B-Boy competition held by world-famous B-Boy group Jinjo Crew.

Year	Winner	Runner Up	Semi Finalists	Quarter Finalists
2016	Gamblerz	Body Carnival	Drifterz Knucklehead Zoo	Red Bull BC One All-Stars Predatorz Skechers All-Stars The Ruggeds
2017	Vagabonds	Red Bull BC One All-Stars	Flooriorz Gamblerz	Polskee Flavou Team China K-Rookiez Navi
2018	Team Europe	{Red Bull BC One All-Stars	Fusion MC Bboy World Asia	Hustle Kidz Flow Mo Body Carnival Monster Bboys
2019	Red Bull BC One All-Stars	Modern Skillz	Squadron Green Panda	Project China 11 High Low Good Vibration Foundnation
2020	Flooriorz	The Ruggeds	Red Bull BC One All-Stars Drifterz	Dream Runnerz Vinotinto Top 9 Super Cr3w
2021	Seoul Skillz	Fusion MC	Artistreet Last for One	TG Breakers Jeju Steez South Indianz Nexxo
2022	Alvin	Phil Wizardz	Vero Gravity	Kae Issin Amir Robb

Climate

Bucheon 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 Bucheon (2004–2020 normals)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	2.8 (37.0)	5.6 (42.1)	11.2 (52.2)	17.5 (63.5)	23.6 (74.5)	27.7 (81.9)	29.1 (84.4)	30.8 (87.4)	26.6 (79.9)	20.7 (69.3)	12.5 (54.5)	4.3 (39.7)	17.7 (63.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−1.1 (30.0)	1.4 (34.5)	6.6 (43.9)	12.5 (54.5)	18.4 (65.1)	22.9 (73.2)	25.4 (77.7)	26.9 (80.4)	22.2 (72.0)	15.9 (60.6)	8.4 (47.1)	0.6 (33.1)	13.3 (55.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−4.6 (23.7)	−2.3 (27.9)	2.6 (36.7)	8.3 (46.9)	13.9 (57.0)	19.1 (66.4)	22.6 (72.7)	23.8 (74.8)	18.4 (65.1)	11.4 (52.5)	4.4 (39.9)	−2.9 (26.8)	9.6 (49.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	11.6 (0.46)	25.4 (1.00)	34.9 (1.37)	65.1 (2.56)	87.8 (3.46)	110.0 (4.33)	391.5 (15.41)	207.8 (8.18)	147.4 (5.80)	46.9 (1.85)	58.4 (2.30)	18.2 (0.72)	1,205 (47.44)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	3.1	3.4	5.2	7.5	6.6	7.4	14.3	10.9	7.7	4.5	7.4	5.8	83.8
Source: Korea Meteorological Administration[10]

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, 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 2022, 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.^[11]

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)^[12] 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. There is also Seogwangsa Temple, beside Weonmisan Mountain.

Notable people

• Choi Sang-hyun, illustrator and character designer
• Chu Ye-jin, actress
• Baekhyun, singer and actor, member of boy band Exo
• Kim Seol-hyun, singer and actress
• Lee Hi, singer-songwriter
• Kim Hee-jung, actress
• Ryu Soo-young, actor
• Moonbyul, singer-songwriter, rapper and dancer, member of girl group Mamamoo
• Yuna Kim, retired figure skater and Olympic gold medallist
• Sora Choi, fashion model
• Katie Kim, singer
• Bada, singer, composer, musical actress and television presenter
• Jinho, singer-songwriter, member of boy band Pentagon
• Song I-han, singer-songwriter

Sports

Bucheon Stadium

Bucheon is home to the K League 2 football team Bucheon FC 1995 and the Women's Korean Basketball League women's basketball team Bucheon Hana Bank.

See also

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

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in South Korea

Bucheon is twinned with:^[13]

• Bakersfield, United States (2006)
• Harbin, China (1995)
• Khabarovsk, Russia (2002)
• Valenzuela, Philippines (2008)

Friendship cities

• Okayama, Japan (2002)
• Kawasaki, Japan (1996)
• Weihai, China (2000)

References

1. "Population statistics". Korea Ministry of the Interior and Safety. 2024.
2. 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
3. 부천시, 상동 영상단지 내 초대형 신세계 복합쇼핑몰 건립 '논란'… 시민단체 '반발'. 16 May 2016.
4. "★ 꿈을 이루는 도시 - 부천시 홈페이지입니다 ★". Archived from the original on 2004-12-14. Retrieved 2008-01-14. Official page of Bucheon (Korean)
5. Alteration of regions concerning Seoul, provinces, counties and districts(1962-11-21)
6. 부천시 '구 폐지' 효과 벌써 벤치마킹. 13 July 2016.
7. 2024년 1월 1일부터 달라지는 부천의 모습!. Wello! (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-10-10.
8. "Bucheon becomes UNESCO City of Literature". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
9. "[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea". 2018-06-01. Retrieved 2018-06-03.
10. "Climatological Normals of Korea (1991 ~ 2020)" (PDF) (in Korean). Korea Meteorological Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
11. 국토부, 부천 원종~서울 홍대입구 광역철도 최종 확정. 21 June 2016.
12. "BOEM". BOEM.
13. "International & Domestic Exchange". bucheon.go.kr. Bucheon. Retrieved 2020-04-14.

External links

• City government website (in Korean)
• City government website (in English)
• Bucheon at Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture