city, Kangwŏn do (province), northeastern South Korea, on the Sea of Japan. Ch'ŏngch'o Lagoon is in the southern part of the city. The coastal waters provide good fishing grounds for cuttlefish, pollack, and mackerel. Linked with Seoul by air and road, the city became a mineral transfer port in 1937. Since the Korean War armistice (1953), it has been a part of South Korea. Pop. (1990) 73,805.