Cheongju (Korean: 청주시?, 淸州市?, Cheongju-si) is a city in the province of Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea. The city is the capital of the province.

History
During the era of the Three Korean States, the territory of modern Cheongju was part of the state of Baekje. At that time, the Sandan (Sandan-hyeon) area was located here. The provincial government moved to the city in 1908. After the Silla State united the Korean Peninsula under its rule, an administrative reform was carried out in 757, after which the Sowongyon district was formed on these lands. In 940, during the era of the Goryeo Dynasty, the Cheongju (Cheongjumok) area was formed. Later, in the era of the Joseon Dynasty, in 1895, Cheongju received the status of a county (gun or kun). Since 1905, when a railway was built through Cheongju, the county has been developing rapidly. In 1908, the provincial government moved here. In 1949, Cheongju received the status of a city (si).

Geography
The city is located 128 kilometers southeast of Seoul. It borders Cheonan, Guesan and Poeun. The highest mountain in the city is Uamsan. The Musimcheon River flows through the territory. The city’s climate is more continental than the rest of Korea. The average annual temperature in the city is 11.6℃, which is 0.6℃ higher than the national average. The average annual rainfall is 1200 mm, most of the precipitation falls during the rainy season from June to September.

Administrative division
Cheongju is administratively divided into 4 gu (ku):
Sandang-gu (상당구)
Heungdeok-ku (흥덕구)
Cheongwon-gu (청원구)
Seowon-gu (서원구)

Economy
There are 414 enterprises operating in the city. Cheongju International Airport operates domestic and international flights. The total passenger turnover of the airport is more than 2 million people a year. In the 1980s, the Cheongju Industrial Complex was built, with a total area of ​​over 4 million m². The main industries in the complex are food, textile, chemical and semiconductor industries. In total, about 30 thousand people work in the complex.

Tourism and attractions
– Hyndoksa is an ancient Buddhist temple, which houses a museum of ancient printing, since one of the first printed books in the world, Chikchi, was created in these places.
– Military fortress “Sandan” sanson”, included in the list of Historic Sites of the country at number 212.
– Cheongyeolsa Shrine – This is the memorial site of Song Sanghyul, the hero of the Imjin War.