History Of Jochiwon: About The Area

A view of Jochiwon from Korea University's Sejong Campus. Jochiwon is home to Korea University and Hongik University's Sejong Campuses. (Salgu Wissmath/ The Sejong Dish)

A view of Jochiwon from Korea University's Sejong Campus. Jochiwon is home to Korea University and Hongik University's Sejong Campuses. (Salgu Wissmath/ The Sejong Dish)

The small city of Jochiwon is home to many foreigners who teach and work in Korea.

On July 1st, 2012, Jochiwon joined Sejong City. Before being added to Sejong City, Jochiwon was part of the Chungcheongnamdo (충청남도) Province.  Jochiwon is located in the center of South Korea in the northern part of Sejong City.  To be more specific, it is located between Daejeon and Cheonan, as well as between Gongju and Cheongju.

In Korean, the word “won” has many meanings.  Traditionally, when added to the end of a city name, it indicates that the city is a good resting place for travelers.  So Jochiwon was traditionally a good place to take a rest while on a journey.  Even today, though most people don’t know much about the town, many travelers are familiar with the Jochiwon train station.

Nearby Jochiwon there are a few landmarks, including Bear Tree Park, Biamsa (Biam Temple), and Obongsan (Obong mountain).  Bear Tree Park is a botanical garden and zoo that has mainly bears; it is a good place for couples to visit. Biamsa is an old temple from the Goryeo kingdom. Goryeo ended in the latter part of the 14th century, so it is a very historical place to visit.  Obongsan is a mountain whose name means “five peak mountain.”  This is a popular and easy place to go hiking near Jochiwon.

Jochiwon and the surrounding area is known for peaches. If you take a walk into the countryside it is easy to find many peach orchards, and   every summer, Jochiwon hosts a peach festival.

Jochiwon will continue to be an important place in Korean history as it recently became a part of the new government city, Sejong City. For a brief history of Sejong City click here.

 

About Michael Thayer

Michael Thayer is from Newton, Iowa. He graduated from Central College in Iowa with a major in International Studies in 2009. Michael arrived in Korea in May of 2012, where he began working at Daedong Elementary school in Jochiwon. Michael enjoys reading, and even began an English book club in Jochiwon. His other hobbies include cooking and learning new things about Korean culture. What is Michael’s favorite thing about teaching English? He says it is hearing students sing English songs outside of class just because it’s fun or because they want to, rather than because it’s required. View all posts by Michael Thayer →

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