Songtan
Encyclopedia
Songtan is an area in the northern end of Pyeongtaek
, Gyeonggido, South Korea
. Songtan achieved city status in its own right in 1981, five years earlier than Pyeongtaek
, but merged, along with Pyeongtaek County, into Pyeongtaek City in May 1995. Most residents still consider it to have an identity separate from the rest of Pyeongtaek City. At consolidation, Songtan had over 110,000 residents, slightly less than the population of pre-consolidation Pyeongtaek City. The district has an administrative office which formerly served as Songtan City Hall. Songtan's best known feature is Osan Air Base
, which spawned the growth of the area and is a major factor in the district's economy.
Songtan Station
serves Songtan, and connects Songtan to Seoul and other cities via the Seoul Metropolitan Subway
. Osan City lies ten miles north of Songtan, but was the closest settlement of appreciable size when the base was built in 1951-52. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that Osan was chosen as the name because the names of nearby hamlets were difficult to pronounce (Seojong-ri was the closest town that existed at the time, two miles south). Osan hosts U.S. Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force units.
Immediately outside the base is a district with many bars, dance clubs, small shops and restaurants. This area is commonly referred to by foreigners as "downtown" but is officially known as Sinjang-dong Shopping Mall. There is a sizeable foreign population, Filipino, and before 9/11 Russian, residing in the immediate vicinity of the base catering to debauchery. On weekends the streets are crowded with both local residents, tourists, shoppers, and general partiers clogging the streets and enjoying the "festive" atmosphere. Famous for hostesses called "Juicys" who supply drinks to the customers, most downtown bars as of 2006 feature pool, darts and hookahs as the main attractions. Dart and pool leagues are extremely popular among the local population. You will see Koreans and foreigners alike carrying pool sticks and darts around with them. There is also a growing music scene at bars that have local bands play on weekend nights. There are only a couple of bands that rotate throughout the Sinjang area.
Small shops are also a large part of the Shinjang area. In 1996 a portion of the main street leading off Osan AB was remade into a pedestrian mall, the Shinjang Shopping Mall. Many Americans are eager to buy custom-made clothing at prices much cheaper than in the U.S. from the skilled artisan
s who line the mall. There are also leather workers and painters, and hanji
shops which cater especially to the Americans. Americans are eager to haggle with the shop owners to obtain the best deal, and the shop owners are usually willing to do the same.
Some of the businesses are well known food chains like McDonald's and Baskin-Robbins; however, most are small, individually owned shops, restaurants, and bars.
"Downtown" is unique from many shopping strips in Korea because of its relatively large American/ foreign presence. Thus, most stores, restaurants, and establishments are bilingual (English/ Korean) and many accept US dollars as well as South Korean won
.
Further away from the base Songtan appears as any other city in Gyeonggi-do, with high-rise apartments stretching to the south. Cityscape gives way to rural farmlands immediately west and about two miles east of the base. From the downtown bus station, buses run to Seoul, which is roughly one hour north. In 2005 the subway/train line from Seoul
connected to Cheonan
, with a station in Songtan. Songtan connects to many other cities; Osan
, Suwon
, or Seoul
to the north; and Pyeongtaek
, Cheonan
, and Daejeon
to the south.
Pyeongtaek
Pyeongtaek is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Located in the southwestern part of the province, Pyeongtaek was founded as a union of two districts in 940 AD, during the Goryeo dynasty. It was elevated to city status in 1986, and is home to a South Korean naval base and a large...
, Gyeonggido, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Songtan achieved city status in its own right in 1981, five years earlier than Pyeongtaek
Pyeongtaek
Pyeongtaek is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Located in the southwestern part of the province, Pyeongtaek was founded as a union of two districts in 940 AD, during the Goryeo dynasty. It was elevated to city status in 1986, and is home to a South Korean naval base and a large...
, but merged, along with Pyeongtaek County, into Pyeongtaek City in May 1995. Most residents still consider it to have an identity separate from the rest of Pyeongtaek City. At consolidation, Songtan had over 110,000 residents, slightly less than the population of pre-consolidation Pyeongtaek City. The district has an administrative office which formerly served as Songtan City Hall. Songtan's best known feature is Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base , is a United States Air Force facility located in the Songtan section of Pyeongtaek City, South Korea, south of Seoul. Despite its name, Osan AB is not within Osan City, which is to the north. The base is the home of the Pacific Air Forces' 51st Fighter Wing, and a number of tenant...
, which spawned the growth of the area and is a major factor in the district's economy.
Songtan Station
Songtan Station
Songtan Station is a ground level metro station in Songtan, a district of Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The station is on Line 1 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, which runs from Soyosan in Dongducheon to Cheonan in Chungcheongnam-do...
serves Songtan, and connects Songtan to Seoul and other cities via the Seoul Metropolitan Subway
Seoul Metropolitan Subway
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway or Metropolitan Subway in Seoul, in Seoul, South Korea, is one of the most heavily used rapid transit systems in the world, with well over 8 million trips daily on the system's thirteen lines...
Administrative History
- 1914 - Songtan Township (myeon) formed as part of Jinwi County (gun)
- 1924 - Jinwi County renamed Pyeongtaek County
- 1963 - Songtan Township promoted to Songtan Town (eup)
- 1981 - Songtan Town promoted to Songtan City (shi), absorbing Seojong Township
- 1995 - Songtan City, Pyeongtaek County and Pyeongtaek City merge into Pyeongtaek City
Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base is a forward deployed base of the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. Osan City lies ten miles north of Songtan, but was the closest settlement of appreciable size when the base was built in 1951-52. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that Osan was chosen as the name because the names of nearby hamlets were difficult to pronounce (Seojong-ri was the closest town that existed at the time, two miles south). Osan hosts U.S. Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force units.
Immediately outside the base is a district with many bars, dance clubs, small shops and restaurants. This area is commonly referred to by foreigners as "downtown" but is officially known as Sinjang-dong Shopping Mall. There is a sizeable foreign population, Filipino, and before 9/11 Russian, residing in the immediate vicinity of the base catering to debauchery. On weekends the streets are crowded with both local residents, tourists, shoppers, and general partiers clogging the streets and enjoying the "festive" atmosphere. Famous for hostesses called "Juicys" who supply drinks to the customers, most downtown bars as of 2006 feature pool, darts and hookahs as the main attractions. Dart and pool leagues are extremely popular among the local population. You will see Koreans and foreigners alike carrying pool sticks and darts around with them. There is also a growing music scene at bars that have local bands play on weekend nights. There are only a couple of bands that rotate throughout the Sinjang area.
Small shops are also a large part of the Shinjang area. In 1996 a portion of the main street leading off Osan AB was remade into a pedestrian mall, the Shinjang Shopping Mall. Many Americans are eager to buy custom-made clothing at prices much cheaper than in the U.S. from the skilled artisan
Artisan
An artisan is a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewellery, household items, and tools...
s who line the mall. There are also leather workers and painters, and hanji
Hanji (Korean paper art)
Korean paper or hanji is the name of traditional handmade paper from Korea. Hanji is made from the inner bark of Paper Mulberry, a tree native to Korea that grows well on its rocky mountainsides, known in Korean as dak. The formation aid crucial to making hanji is the mucilage that oozes from the...
shops which cater especially to the Americans. Americans are eager to haggle with the shop owners to obtain the best deal, and the shop owners are usually willing to do the same.
Some of the businesses are well known food chains like McDonald's and Baskin-Robbins; however, most are small, individually owned shops, restaurants, and bars.
"Downtown" is unique from many shopping strips in Korea because of its relatively large American/ foreign presence. Thus, most stores, restaurants, and establishments are bilingual (English/ Korean) and many accept US dollars as well as South Korean won
South Korean won
The won is the currency of South Korea. A single won is divided into 100 jeon, the monetary subunit. The jeon is no longer used for everyday transactions, and appears only in foreign exchange rates...
.
Outside the base
Songtan grew southward and eastward from the base and is now a major bedroom community for Seoul and Suwon workers. Hundreds of large multi-story apartment buildings house these commuters.Further away from the base Songtan appears as any other city in Gyeonggi-do, with high-rise apartments stretching to the south. Cityscape gives way to rural farmlands immediately west and about two miles east of the base. From the downtown bus station, buses run to Seoul, which is roughly one hour north. In 2005 the subway/train line from Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
connected to Cheonan
Cheonan
Cheonan is a city located in the northeast corner of South Chungcheong, a province of South Korea, and is 83.6 km south of the capital, Seoul...
, with a station in Songtan. Songtan connects to many other cities; Osan
Osan
Osan is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, approximately 35 km south of Seoul. The population of the city is around 120,000. The local economy is supported by a mix of agricultural and industrial enterprises....
, Suwon
Suwon
Suwon is the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. A major city of over a million inhabitants, Suwon lies approximately south of Seoul. It is traditionally known as "The City of Filial Piety"....
, or Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
to the north; and Pyeongtaek
Pyeongtaek
Pyeongtaek is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Located in the southwestern part of the province, Pyeongtaek was founded as a union of two districts in 940 AD, during the Goryeo dynasty. It was elevated to city status in 1986, and is home to a South Korean naval base and a large...
, Cheonan
Cheonan
Cheonan is a city located in the northeast corner of South Chungcheong, a province of South Korea, and is 83.6 km south of the capital, Seoul...
, and Daejeon
Daejeon
Daejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the...
to the south.