Description
Suwon (Korean: 수원; Hanja: 水原; lit. Water source, Korean: [sʰu.wʌn]) is the capital and largest city of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea's most populous province. Suwon lies approximately 30 km (19 mi) south of the national capital, Seoul. With a population close to 1¼ million, it has more residents than Ulsan Metropolitan City, though it has a lesser degree of self-governance as a 'special case city'.
Traditionally known as the 'City of Filial Piety', today Suwon retains a variety of historical features. As a walled city, it is a popular destination for day trippers from Seoul, and these city walls appear among the province's more popular sites.
Suwon also plays an important economic role: Samsung Electronics, Korea's largest company by sales, is based in the city. The company's research and development centre is in Yeongtong-gu, where its headquarters have also been located since 2016. Samsung's presence in Suwon is clearly visible: the company is a partner of Sungkyunkwan University, which has its Natural Sciences Campus in the city, and the company owns the four-time K League champions and two-time Asian Super Cup winners Suwon Samsung Bluewings.
Suwon is home to several universities, e.g., Sungkyunkwan University, Ajou University, and several football, baseball, basketball, and volleyball teams, including Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Suwon FC, and KT Wiz. The city is served by three expressways, the national railway network, and three lines on the Seoul Metropolitan Subway.
*[lit.]: literal translation
