Considered the gateway to the National Capital Region, Cheonan is a vibrant city with a number of excellent museums and galleries. It’s also home to one of South Korea’s largest temples and Buddha statues.
Things to do in Cheonan
Learn about Korea’s struggle for independence during the Japanese colonial period at the Independence Hall of Korea. It’s home to both the Monument of the Nation and the Unification Bell, together with historical documents and relics exploring the country’s heritage.
Visit Cheonan’s Postal Museum to see artefacts dating back to the first years of Korea’s postal service. Admire the late-19th-century postal boxes and vintage stamps, together with postal uniforms that reflect traditional Korean styles and Japanese colonial influences.
Climb the steep stairs that lead from the base of Mt Taejosan to Gakwonsa Temple, which boasts beautiful views of Cheonan and the surrounding valley. It was enshrined in 1977 in the hope of reunification between North and South Korea, with an immense bronze Buddha statue dominating the temple grounds.
Interested in alternative art? Visit the Arario Gallery, which specialises in works made using raw materials and organic substances. Both Korean and international artists are on display, together with a striking installation by acclaimed British artist, Damien Hirst.
Getting around Cheonan
Cheonan is one hour’s drive from Seoul and is connected by regular bus and train services. Stations on the Seoul Subway are scattered throughout Cheonan and there are frequent buses and taxis.