Suwon

Suwon
수원
Special case city
Korean transcription(s)
 • Hangul수원시
 • Hanja水原市
 • Revised RomanizationSuwon-si
 • McCune–ReischauerSuwŏn-si
From top, left to right:
view of Suwon from Paldalsan Mountain,
Suwon World Cup Stadium,
Hwaseong Fortress, Gwanggyo Lake Park,
Suwon Station
Location in South Korea
Coordinates: 37°16′N 127°01′E / 37.267°N 127.017°E / 37.267; 127.017
Country South Korea
AreaGyeonggi Province (Seoul Metropolitan Area)
Administrative divisions4 gu, 43 dong
Government
 • TypeMayor-Council
 • MayorLee Jae-jun (Democratic)
 • CouncilSuwon City Council
 • Members of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council
List
 • Members of the National Assembly
List
Area
 • Total
121.04 km2 (46.73 sq mi)
Highest elevation
(Gwanggyosan)
582 m (1,909 ft)
Population
 (june 2025[1])
 • Total
1,191,063
 • Density9,800/km2 (25,000/sq mi)
 • Dialect
Gyeonggi
Area code+82-31-2xx
WebsiteSuwon City Council

Suwon (Korean수원; Korean pronunciation: [sʰu.wʌn]) is the largest city and capital of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea's most populous province. The city lies approximately 30 km (19 mi) south of the national capital, Seoul. With a population of 1.2 million,[4] Suwon has more inhabitants than Ulsan,[4][5] though it enjoys a lesser degree of self-governance as a 'special case city'.[6]

Traditionally known as the 'City of Filial Piety',[7] modern Suwon retains a variety of historical landmarks. As a walled city, it is a popular destination for day-trippers from Seoul,[8] with the wall itself—Hwaseong Fortress—receiving 1½ million visits in 2015.[9]

Suwon plays an important economic role as it is home to Samsung Electronics, Korea's largest and most profitable company.[10] The company's research and development centre is in Yeongtong District in eastern Suwon, where its headquarters have also been located since 2016.[11] Samsung's prominence in Suwon is clear: the company is partnered with Sungkyunkwan University,[12] which has a campus in the city; it also owns the professional football team Suwon Samsung Bluewings. This team has won the K League four times[13] and the Asian Super Cup twice.[14][15] The city is also home to the K League 1 team Suwon FC and the KBO League baseball team KT Wiz.

Suwon houses several well-known universities, most notably Sungkyunkwan University and Ajou University.[16] It is served by three expressways, the national railway network, and three lines on the Seoul Metropolitan Subway.

  1. ^ "Population statistics". Korea Ministry of the Interior and Safety. 2025.
  2. ^ 나무·꽃·새·주 상징종 [Trees, Flowers, Birds, and City Symbols] (in Korean). Suwon City Council. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  3. ^ 우편번호 개요 [Postal code overview] (in Korean). Korea Post. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b 월별인구현황 [Population Status by Month] (in Korean). Suwon City Council. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Administrative District & Population". Ulsan Metropolitan City Council. 28 February 2023. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  6. ^ "PM: 4 Cities to be Given New Autonomous Status Hold Greater Responsibility". KBS World. 3 January 2022. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Suwon invites visitors to city of heritage, festivities". The Korea Herald. 1 May 2016. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  8. ^ Park, Hyemi (11 March 2016). "Suwon celebrates its past while looking ahead". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Suwon Hwaseong fortress celebrates 220th year". Korea JoongAng Daily. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Samsung Electronics stays atop S. Korea's top 500 firms' list". Yonhap News Agency. 10 May 2023. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  11. ^ Song, Sung-hoon (22 February 2016). "Samsung Electronics leaves Seoul headquarters". Maeil Business News. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  12. ^ Stek, Pieter (2017). "The Strategic Alliance Between Sungkyunkwan University and the Samsung Group: South Korean Exceptionalism or New Global Model?". Triple Helix Association. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Club: Suwon Samsung Bluewings". Goalzz. Kooora. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  14. ^ Stokkermans, Karel (16 October 2014). "Asian Club Competitions 2000/01". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Blue Wings flying high". BBC Sport. 24 July 2002. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  16. ^ 수원시통계 [Suwon City Statistics] (in Korean). Archived from the original on 30 January 2011.