city, Chŏlla-puk do (province), western South Korea. Kunsan is situated 25 miles (40 km) west-northwest of the provincial capital, Chŏnju, and 7.5 miles (12 km) from the mouth of the Kŭm River. From the time of the Yi dynasty (1392–1910), it was noted as a rice-shipping port, and much of its commercial activities centred on processing, storing, and transporting rice grown on the rich Kŭm River plain. A thermoelectric plant was constructed after independence was achieved in 1945, and paper, lumber, rubber, and plastic industries began to develop. Pop. (1985) 185,649.