Chungju (Korean: 충주시?, 忠州市?, Chungju-si) is a city in Chungcheongbuk-do Province, South Korea. Chungju is the hometown of the 8th UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.

History
In the Samhan era, the territory on which modern Chungju is located belonged to the Mahan tribal union (III-IV centuries). Later, in the middle of the 4th century, the territory came under the control of one of the Three States, Baekje. In 475, the Kukwonseong Fortress was founded here, and after the state of Silla conquered this land, in 550, an administrative region (mok) was organized with the center in Gukwonseong. In 685, the name was changed to Jungwonseogyeong (685), then to Jungwongyeong (757). In the era of the Goryeo dynasty, in 940, the administrative unit of Chungjubu was formed here, then renamed Chungjumok. Chungju was renamed Kukwongyeong in 1254 and Yesong in 1277. Since 1395 – part of the province of Chungcheong-do. Since the beginning of the 20th century, there has been a county of Chungju (Chunjugun). In 1956, Chungju County was divided into two administrative divisions – Chungju City and Chungwon County.

Geography
Chungju is located in the central part of the Korean Peninsula. It borders Chechon to the east, Umseong to the west, Kwesan and Gyeongsangbuk-do to the south, and Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do to the north. The landscape is predominantly mountainous, with the highest mountains being Geemyeongsan, Namsan, Taerimsan, and Woraksan.