Anyang, Gyeonggi

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Anyang, Gyeonggi
Hangul:	안양시
Hanja:	安養市
Revised Romanization:	Anyang-si
McCune-Reischauer:	Anyang-si
Area:	58.5 km²
Population:	618,732 2004 registration
Pop. density:	10,576 people/km²
Administrative divisions:	2 gu, 31 dong

Anyang is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It is located some 20 km to the south of Seoul and is connected to Seoul Subway Line 1 and Line 4. Other nearby cities include Incheon and Gwangmyeong to the west, Suwon to the south-east, and Gwacheon due north-east. Anyang is generally divided into two sections: The older downtown section centered at Anyang Station, a big shopping area with pleasant stores and outdoor markets, and Pyeongchon, the wealthier, more upscale area down the road. Strategically located, Anyang is a convenient transportation hub between Seoul and other major cities across the country.

Like most towns and cities in South Korea, Anyang has experienced tremendous urban growth during the past few decades. Ten years after the Korean War ended, the area's population was still largely rural and its landscape agricultural. Today, the conglomerated city of Anyang (amalgamated in 1973) is among the most populous in the country. It is also becoming a suburb of choice for some Seoulites because of its very close proximity to Seoul, and for the beautiful mountains and scenery that surround Anyang, shielding it from the larger urban centers nearby. Distinct and autonomous, Anyang offers every amenity a major city in Korea has to offer. The city also boasts perhaps the most beautiful, ultra-modern city hall in the entire country. The motto of Anyang is "Livable city, Proud citizens" and the mayor's message on the city's website describes Anyang as a city of hope.

Anyang city panorama, 2006

Anyang has many institutions of higher learning which include Anyang Technical College, Anyang University, Daehan Graduate School of Theology, Daelim College, and Sungkyul University. Anyang is also home to the Buddhist temple of Anyangsa, located on Mt. Samseong. The historical plaque at the site tells that it was built by Shilla's King Hyogong, who would later establish the Koryo Dynasty and become its first king more than 1,000 years ago. The location was chosen by him for its mystical properties, which inspired the building of the temple upon travelling south to quell the rebellion in southern Shilla. The plaque further elaborates that the name for the city of Anyang is believed to have originated from the temple. Anyang itself is a Buddhist term signifying a heavenly land where unimaginable joy and freedom overflow.