South Korea Guide
Gyeonggi and Gangwon
Chuncheon
Despite its status as Gangwon's capital city, CHUNCHEON remains small and relaxed; in fact, it's the country's smallest provincial capital. Mountain-fringed and surrounded by artificial lakes, the fresh air is a welcome change to those who've been cooped up in a larger city, particularly on the small island of Jungdo. All this may be about to change, however – the city's proximity to Seoul, combined with Korea's heavy investment in public transport and the gradual shift of business from the capital, means that in national terms, Chuncheon's stock is going up. A new expressway should be finished by 2009, bringing it within an hour's drive of the capital; the KTX line will follow by 2013, so it's hard to see how Chuncheon can avoid becoming a commuter town. Although there's not an awful lot to see in the city itself, the surrounding countryside is beautiful and makes a pleasant stop on the way from Seoul to the eastern coast, especially if you plan to skip across the lakes by ferry along the way.