Chuncheon

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Chuncheon or Chunchon (chōōn´chôn´), city (1993 pop. 179,372), capital of Gangwon (Kangwon) prov., N South Korea. It is an important market town and rice-processing center with rail and road links to Seoul. Textiles, silk yarn, and raw silk are produced, and other light industries are emerging. Tungsten, mica, and fluorspar are mined nearby. Chuncheon was the capital of the kingdom of Maek (250 BC–AD 660) and was later absorbed by Silla (see Korea).