Iksan

Iksan, formerly Iri, city, North Chŏlla (Jeolla) do (province), western South Korea. Located about 15 miles (25 km) east of the port city of Kunsan (Gunsan), it lies in the northern part of the Honam Plain, the largest granary of South Korea. Iksan city was formed in 1995 through the merger of the city of Iri with Iksan county. It is the market centre for the agricultural products of the area, particularly rice. Jewelry making and metallurgy are traditional industries of the area, and the city is still a centre of jewelry manufacturing. There is a jewelry museum that features a collection of works of the Paekche (Baekje) kingdom. The city is at the junction of rail lines leading to Mokp’o, Taejŏn (Daejeon), Yŏsu (Yeosu), and Kunsan; it is also on the high-speed railway line that connects Mokp’o and Taejŏn and is served by intercity express buses. Agricultural research organizations are located there, as is Wonkwang University (1953). Pop. (2010) 296,366.