Ansan

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Ansan (Korean: 안산, Korean pronunciation: [an.san]) is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It lies southwest of Seoul and is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Area. It is connected to Seoul by rail via Seoul Subway Line 4. It is situated on the Yellow Sea coast and some islands lie within its jurisdiction. The largest and best-known of these is Daebu Island. Several higher learning institutions are located in Ansan. They include Ansan University, Shin Ansan University, the ERICA campus of Hanyang University, and the Seoul Institute of the Arts. The Korea Transportation Safety Authority, a government agency, has also been headquartered in Ansan since June 3, 2002. With its high number of foreign workers, Wongokbon-dong has been designated as a multicultural area. In 2021, Ansan was selected as the largest residential area for foreigners and it is seeking designation as a special multicultural city. Street play festival is held every year in Ansan.

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Industrial heritage in everyday life

Ansan grew around a cluster of heavy‑industry plants that still shape its rhythm. The hum of the nearby petrochemical complex can be heard from residential streets, yet the city has repurposed many former factory sites into cultural venues. The former steel mill turned art centre now hosts experimental music nights, while the waterfront promenade, once a freight dock, offers night markets where local vendors serve seafood caught just off Daebu Island. Visitors who linger beyond the commuter rush discover a city where the legacy of manufacturing blends with a surprisingly vibrant creative scene.

Beyond the subway: exploring coastal islands

While the subway line connects Ansan to Seoul in under an hour, the real shift in perspective comes with a short ferry ride to Daebu Island. The island’s low‑lying tidal flats create an unhurried landscape ideal for birdwatching – especially during spring migrations when egrets gather in the marshes. Cyclists can follow the coastal road that links several small fishing villages, each offering a modest tasting of grilled mackerel and seaweed soup. The journey feels less like a side trip and more like a quiet counterpoint to the city’s dense urban texture.

Student neighbourhoods as cultural crossroads

Ansan hosts several university campuses, which inject a youthful dynamism into adjacent districts. The ERICA campus, in particular, pumps a steady flow of domestic and international students into nearby cafés and boutique bookstores. These enclaves host regular language‑exchange evenings and indie film screenings that are rarely advertised to tourists. For travellers interested in contemporary Korean youth culture, a walk through these neighbourhoods reveals street art reflecting social issues and pop‑culture references that differ markedly from the more polished districts of central Seoul.

Introduction

City in Gyeonggi, South Korea For other uses, see Ansan (disambiguation). Specific city in Gyeonggi Province, South KoreaAnsan 안산시Specific cityKorean transcription(s) • Hangul안산시 • Hanja安山市 • Revised RomanizationAnsan-si • McCune–ReischauerAnsan-siAnsan Culture SquareAnsan Reed Marshy ParkChoi Yongshin Memorial HallAnsan Lake ParkHanyang University ERICA campus FlagEmblem of AnsanLocation in South KoreaCoordinates: 37°19′0″N 126°50′0″E / 37.31667°N 126.83333°E / 37.31667; 126.83333Country South KoreaRegionGyeonggi Province (Sudogwon)First mention940City status1986Administrative divisions2 gu, 25 dongGovernment • MayorLee Min-Geun(People Power Party)Area • Total149.39 km2 (57.68 sq mi)Elevation9 m (30 ft)Population (july 2025) • Total614,772 • Density4,115.2/km2 (10,658/sq mi) • DialectSeoulPostal code425020-426910Area code(+82) 31BirdChinese egretFlowerRoseTreeGinkgoWebsiteansan.go.kr Ansan (Korean: 안산, Korean pronunciation: [an.san]) is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It lies southwest of Seoul and is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Area. It is connected to Seoul by rail via Seoul Subway Line 4. It is situated on the Yellow Sea coast and some islands lie within its jurisdiction. The largest and best-known of these is Daebu Island. Several higher learning institutions are located in Ansan. They include Ansan University, Shin Ansan University, the ERICA campus of Hanyang University, and the Seoul Institute of the Arts. The Korea Transportation Safety Authority, a government agency, has also been headquartered in Ansan since June 3, 2002. With its high number of foreign workers, Wongokbon-dong has been designated as a multicultural area. In 2021, Ansan was selected as the largest residential area for foreigners and it is seeking designation as a special multicultural city. Street play festival is held every year in Ansan.

History

[edit] Ancient era[edit] The first humans in Ansan were in the New Stone Age, and many shell middens and prehistoric remains were found at Oido, Sihwaho, Chojidong and Daebudo. In the Seonbu-dong and Wolpi-dong area, over 10 stone dolmen tombs could be found.: 28  Also in 1995, Old Stone Age relics were found while constructing the Seohaean Expressway. Most dolmens in Ansan are north dolmen, but the dolmen in Seonbu-dong are table-shaped and another table-shaped tomb was found in Hakon-dong, Gwangmyeong. There are many ancient relics found in the city. Three Kingdoms and Goryeo eras[edit] Not much evidence or antiquities survive from the Proto-Three Kingdoms and Samhan periods in Ansan and nearby areas.: 29  The Mahan confederacy in Chen Shou in Records of the Three Kingdoms preserves writings about the chiefdom state. Ansan was in communion with Baekje but very little has been saved. In the Later Three Kingdoms era, the Ansan area was owned by Taebong (also known as Hugoguryeo, "Later Goguryeo") in Silla Hyogong's 4th year (AD 900).: 31  After then, Kung Ye, who was the ruler of Taebong, was overthrown by Taejo, and the Ansan area was turned over to Goryeo, founded by Taejo. First, the Kung Ye Ganggu-gun was changed to Ansan-gun but the state of the military was preserved. Joseon era[edit] Ansan belonged to Gyeonggijwa-do (left Gyeonggi Province) in the Joseon period. Taejo's 5th year (AD 1396), Ansan-eoso (meaning Ansan fishery) that is now under the direct control of a detached building of Saongwon (the Department of foods and meals in the Joseon dynasty) was set up.: 32  After Gyeonggijwa-do and Gyeonggiwo-do (right Gyeonggi province) were unified in Taejong's 2nd year (AD 1402), Ansan was still called Ansan. Under Taejong's 13th year (AD 1413), the whole country was detached into eight provinces. Modern era[edit] Until 1914, Ansan and the southern part of today's Siheung consisted of Ansan County. In 1914, Ansan County was annexed to Siheung County. This region produced high-quality salt from ancient times and valuable marine products. Ansan was then a fishing village. In 1986, several towns of Hwaseong county became incorporated, representing the beginning of Ansan as a city. With currently over 600,000 residents, Ansan now has two distinct and separate districts: Danwon, which has 12 dongs as of 2009, and Sangnok, with 13.

Transportation

[edit] Railway[edit] Ansan Stream at night The Ansan Line is a major rail line in Ansan and is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway as Line 4. Service connects from Oido to Jinjeop in Namyangju. The subway is also connected to the public bus system in Ansan. Previously, the first railroad in the city was the Suin Line which was opened by Korea under Japanese rule. In mid-2020, the Suin Bundang line started operations, connecting Suwon and Ansan which expanded the living space in Ansan. Korail Seoul Subway Line 4 (via Ansan Line) (Gunpo) ← Banwol — Sangnoksu — Hanyang Univ. at Ansan — Jungang — Gojan — Choji — Ansan — Singiloncheon → (Siheung) Seohae Line Wonsi — Siu — Choji — Seonbu — Dalmi → (Siheung) → (Gimpo Airport) → (Goyang) Suin–Bundang Line (via Ansan Line) (Hwaseong) ← Sari — Hanyang Univ. at Ansan — Jungang — Gojan — Choji — Ansan — Singiloncheon → (Siheung) Future expansion[edit] Currently, Seohae Line starts from Ansan to Sosa station in Bucheon. But the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is extended to Goyang through Gimpo International Airport station. It was planned to be completed by 2023 and extended Seohae Line officially opened on 1 July 2023. The Shin Ansan Line will connect Yeouido to Ansan in 2024. It will take only 30 minutes from Yeouido to Ansan Also, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is considering extending to Seoul Station. Future Shin Ansan Line [ko] Hanyang University — Ansan City Hall — Jungang — Seongpo — Jangha — Mokgam → (Gwangmyeong) → (Seoul) Bus[edit] Ansan Bus Terminal The Ansan Bus Terminal [ko] (안산종합버스터미널) near Ansan station provides daily bus service to Incheon International Airport and most cities in South Korea including Gimhae and Busan. Buses travel via Gimpo International Airport and Incheon International Airport. Express buses to Iksan, Dongdaegu, and Gwangju are also available. Near Sangnoksu station are buses going to Suwon station and Gangnam station. Ansan has 53 bus lines with 537 buses operating in and out of the city limits, connecting the city with Seoul and other outlying Gyeonggi cities. The Ansan transfer center also has express city buses, city buses, and intercity buses to link to Banwol industrial estate, Sihwa lake, and nearby cities. Pedalro[edit] Pedalro is a public bicycle system in Ansan. There are 101 Pedalro stations in Ansan. This is run on a membership basis. However, due to high cost for maintenance, Ansan discontinued the public bicycle service in 2021.

Cultural institutions and heritage

[edit] Walking path along Ansan Canal in summer In the past, Ansan had fewer attractions and a poor reputation due to its industrial and fishing roots, but the east side of the city has recently experienced several beautification projects. The canal systems which bisect the city have bicycling and walking paths, and are covered with roses, tulips, and cherry blossoms in spring. A community bicycle system sponsored by the city is also available for park access and riding. Nowadays, Ansan has many museums and galleries, such as the Ansan Culture and Arts Center, Seongho Memorial Hall, Danwon Sculpture Park, and Hwarang Public Garden. Ansan has run city bus tours for cultural heritage sightseeing since 2008. Events[edit] The Jet-mer-ri village deity is held every year in the Jet-mer-ri shrine to the village deity from 1984, and since 1987 the Beal-Mang-Sung art festival is held. Also, since 1991 the Danwon art festival and since 1996 the Sung-ho cultural festival is held. The Ansan Street Arts Festival is held in Ansan Culture Square in May since 2005. Other festivals in Ansan include: Ansan Kim Hong-do Festival (September) Ansan Daebu Island: The scent of ocean tulip festival (April) Ansan Street Arts Festival (May) Ansan Valley Rock Festival (July) Byeolmangseong Art Festival (September) Seongho Cultural Festival (May) Historical monuments and structures[edit] Historical monuments and structures in Ansan include: Ansan Town Wall Byeolmangseong Fortress Cheongmundang Daebudo Island Charity Monument (Daebudo Jaseonbi) Gosong Pavilion Hong Jeonghui Gate of Filial Duty (Hongjeonghui Hyojamun) Jaetmeori Local God Shrine Korean Juniper Tree in Palgok-ri Ojeonggak Pavilion Sasechungyeolmun (Shrine of Loyalty, Virtue and Filial Duty) Seonbu-dong Dolmens Ssanggyesa Tomb of Ahn Tandae Tomb of Choi Hon Tomb of Gang Jing Tomb of General Choi Jeong-geoi Tomb of Han Eungin Tomb of Hong Cheoyun Tomb of Jeong Eonbyeok Tomb of Princess Jeongjeong Tomb of Yi Ik Tomb of Yi Inhyeon Tomb of Yu Seok Tomb of Yun Gang Modern monuments and cultural institutions[edit] Modern monuments and cultural institutions in Ansan include: Gyeonggi Museum of Art (sometimes known as the Ansan Art Museum) Ansan Botanical Garden Ansan Cultural Center Ansan Culture and Arts Center Ansan Lighthouse Ansan Sled Park Choi Yong-sin Memorial Hall Fishing Village Folk Museum Gyeonggi English Village Ansan Camp (also known as Ansan Hwajeong English Village) Olympic Memorial Hall Seongho Memorial Hall Parks and natural landmarks[edit] Ansan Lake Park Ansan is home to several parks, including: Ansan Lake Park Daebu Island Hwarang Public Garden Lake Sihwaho Mt. Gwangdeoksan Mt. Surisan Nojeok Bong Park Seongho Park Seongpo Arts Square Sihwaho Lake Reed Marsh Park Marronniergongwon Park Ansan canal through trees Ansan Canal, South Korea Ansan Dutch Garden Roses Sports[edit] Large and small stadiums have been founded from the 1990s on in Ansan. Major sports events in the city take place at the Ansan Wa~ Stadium. The city was home to Shinhan Bank S-Bird Woman's Basketball Team (member of the Women's Korean Basketball League). The team moved to Incheon in 2014. It was also a home to the now-defunct National League soccer club Ansan Hallelujah. Ansan is also home to Ansan OK Financial Group Okman volleyball club. They are members of the V-League. Ansan established a professional football team called the Ansan Greeners FC. In its first year, the team also received the "Plus Stadium" award and the "Full Stadium" award. At present (April 10, 2018), the Ansan Grinders FC has placed second. Television series and films[edit] A Man Called God (filmed at the pension complex on Daebu Island) Boys Over Flowers (filmed at the pension complex on Daebu Island) Designated Survivor: 60 Days Heading to the Ground Last Scandal The Secret of Birth Hotel del Luna (filmed at Lake Park on Hanyang University's ERICA campus) Twenty (filmed at the College of Business on Hanyang University's ERICA campus) While You Were Sleeping (2017 TV series; filmed at Suwon District Prosecutor's Office Ansan Branch)[unreliable source?]

Ansan

From Wikipedia

Industrial heritage in everyday life

Beyond the subway: exploring coastal islands

Student neighbourhoods as cultural crossroads

Introduction

History

Geography

Demographics

Transportation

Public institutions

Administrative districts

Education

Economy

Cultural institutions and heritage

Sister cities

Mayors

Notable people

Exchanges