TAEJON

also spelled Daejeon, city and provincial capital, Ch'ungch'ong-nam do (province), southeastern South Korea. Taejon has the status of a special city, with administrative status equal to that of a province. Until the end of the Yi dynasty (13921910) it was a poor village located on the Taejon River. Development began after the juncture of rail lines in 1905 and 1914. It is connected with Seoul (104 miles to the north-northeast), Pusan, and Mokp'o by rail and highway. During the Korean War (195053) it was a temporary capital of the Republic of Korea, and 70 percent of the city was destroyed, but it has been rebuilt. The manufacture of cotton textiles, machinery, chemicals, and hides has been developed. Chungnam National University and five other colleges are located there. Yusong, 7 miles (11 km) northwest, is a hot springs bathing resort. Pop. (1990 prelim.) 1,062,084.