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Songtan Area Outside Osan Air Base |
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Songtan grew up around Osan Air Base and was originally just three tiny farming villages. When Osan Air Base was established in 1952, the closest town of any size was Osan-up, from which Osan Air Base got it name. Songtan officially became a city on 1 July 1981 and has since grown to a population of 110,000. Songtan has many shops and outdoor stands that offer goods at a much lower price than in the States. In the past you could barter and get a cheaper price on almost anything but now most store owners have a set price. Some will come down a small amount. As of 10 May 1995, Songtan merged with the nearby larger city of Pyongtaek and became a metropolis of 310,000 people covering an area of 87,168 acres. The Songtan and Pyongtaek area has become a major industrial site and is the home for many factories. Following the merger has been the development of Pyongtaek as a major port city. A West Coast highway links Incheon to Mokpo, and a deep water harbor has recently been completed at Pyongtaek. The city is rapidly becoming a major port and industrial complex on the West Coast of South Korea. References to Songtan are being changed over to Pyongtaek, but many people (and some official signs) still use Songtan and Songtan City. For the time being, any references to Songtan refers to the area just outside the main gate of Osan Air Base. |