CH'ONAN

city, South Ch'ungch'ong do (province), western South Korea, south of Seoul. A transportation junction since ancient times, it is known by a famous folk song, "Ch'onan-Samgori" (Samgori meaning "three-forked road"). It is connected with the surrounding provinces by rail and road and is the market centre for agricultural products (rice, barley, and vegetables) from the northern part of South Ch'ungch'ong province. The picturesque old Songbul Temple is on the nearby mountain. The area around Onyang, a few miles west, has some of the country's largest hot-spring spas and is the site of Hyonch'ung Temple. Pop. (1990) 211,363; (1995 prelim.) 330,509.