Yeoju

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Yeoju is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It sits in the eastern part of the province and borders Wonju (Gangwon Province) to the east, Icheon to the southwest, Gwangju to the west, Yangpyeong-gun to the north, and parts of North Chungcheong Province to the south. The city covers about 608.6 square kilometers and has a population of about 114,750 as of September 2024, with a density of around 189 people per square kilometer. Yeoju became a city in September 2013, after previously being a county.

Yeoju is known for ceramics, especially alongside nearby Icheon, and hosts the World Ceramic Exposition each year. Local products also include rice, sweet potatoes, and yellow melons. The city is the birthplace of Korea’s last queen, Empress Myeongseong, and the tomb of Sejong the Great was moved here in 1469, making it a popular tourist site. Other historic landmarks include Silleuksa, the only riverside Buddhist temple in Korea founded in 580 by the monk Wonhyo, which houses important relics and a brick pagoda, and the ruins of the Godal-Saji temple, dating back to 764 AD. The remains of Pasaseong-ji fortress on Pasa Mountain can still be visited along a hiking trail.

Historically, Yeoju has been an important agricultural hub, especially for rice, and Joseon-era policies helped boost farming here. Notable families from the area played roles in Joseon politics, and the tomb of Sejong the Great remains a major attraction. Empress Myeongseong’s birthplace, Gamgodang, is tied to the city’s history; it was preserved after Japan’s occupation to honor her resistance.

Yeoju has a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate, with cold, dry winters and hot, rainy summers. The Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway passes through the city, improving connectivity. The local dialect is similar to Seoul speech, and the city is home to educational institutions such as the Yeoju Institute of Technology.