Pyeongchang (English: /ˌpjʌŋˈtʃɑːŋ/ pyung-CHAHNG,[3] Korean: [pʰjʌŋtɕʰaŋ]; in full, Pyeongchang-gun [pʰjʌŋtɕʰaŋɡun]) is a county in the province of Gangwon-do, South Korea, located in the Taebaek Mountains region.

It is about 180 km (110 mi) east southeast of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and connected by expressways and high-speed passenger railways.

[4] It was officially rebranded as "PyeongChang" (with a capital 'C') for the purposes of the 2018 Games, in order to avoid confusion with Pyongyang in North Korea.

[5][6] Pyeongchang region was ruled by the Goguryeo Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period, and it was called Uk-o-hyeon (욱오현).

When a new administrative system was carried out by King Hyeonjong, the east of the region was involved in Dong-gyeo, and the rest of it was included in Yanggwang-do.

[13] The altitude of Pyeongchang is wide-ranging, with 84% of its territory comprising mountains with average elevations of 750 m (2,460 ft).

Although the Joseon Dynasty's policy was the prohibition of Buddhism, it constantly donated to rebuild the temple.

During the Third Battle of Seoul, the United Nations Command ordered that the temple be burned, but a Buddhist monk prevented it.

[23] Sangwonsa has the following cultural heritage sites: Woljeongsa is a temple on Odaesan Mountain established by Jajang the monk in 643.

[34] Alpensia will be the focus of the 2018 Cultural Olympiad, with a new, purpose-built concert hall within the resort with an indoor water park.

[35] Samyang Ranch is the largest highlands farm in Asia, located in the hills of Daegwallyeong at 850 to 1,470 meters above sea level.

Pyeongchang won their 2018 bid after two previous failed attempts for the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, to which it lost to Vancouver, Canada, and Sochi, Russia, respectively.

[42] In preparation for the 2018 Olympics, the region built facilities including hotels and a world-class ski resort, named Alpensia.

[43] Gangwon Province, which includes Pyeongchang, was chosen as the host for the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics.

After the expressway was expanded in 1999 for the Winter Asian Games, it takes about two hours from Seoul to Pyeongchang by car.

The district includes one town (eup), Pyeongchang-eup (평창읍; 平昌邑) and seven townships (myeon):