This is where I have been teaching for the past five years. There is actually a fairly good web page that people could check out. Click on both the English and Panorama sections.
This private university (founded in 1924 although it received its present name in 1946) is one of the oldest in Korea south of the Han river. I am unsure as to the exact size of the student body but I would guess that the freshmen themselves number about 5,000.
As to the city of Cheongju itself (also known as the "City of Education" because of the multitude of universities and colleges here) the population is supposedly 579,500. My students usually tell me the number is more like 800,00 and I am inclined to believe them. Koreans consider it a "small" city. Most Westerners do not and find it crowded. It is the capital of Korea's only inland province and located 128 kilometers south of Seoul. If you are interested in learning more the following site is good.
The city is located in a valley so no matter which direction you look in you will see moutain ranges. I have been told that each mountain has its own name but I do not know them. The university is located on the side of Uam mountain (supposedly the mountain looks like a cow laying down).
The first picture overlooks the University's administration building and then down on the city. There is often a haze covering the city. Air is trapped here and this can have negative consequences.
The second shot overlooks the infamous pond where scores of Chongdae students have found themselves tossed in during the "coming of age" ceremonies. It makes staying "young" look very appealing to Western eyes.
One of the things that I like so much about the university is that it is away from the city. The last shot on this page shows this quite well. Although it often means having to walk up, and or down (down being much easier) the mountain, (to go to and fro from office to class) it is wonderful to actually be able to step away from it all when you want/need to.
