Gyeonggi Province

Gyeonggi-do is the most populous province in South Korea. Its name, Gyeonggi means "the area surrounding capital". Thus Gyeonggi-do can be translated as "province surrounding Seoul". The provincial capital is Suwon. Seoul—South Korea's largest city and national capital—is in the heart of the province but has been separately administered as a provincial-level special city since 1946. Incheon—South Korea's third largest city—is on the coast of the province and has been similarly administered as a provincial-level metropolitan city since 1981. The three jurisdictions collectively cover 11,730 km2, with a combined population of 25.6 million—amounting to over half of the entire population of South Korea.

History

Gyeonggi Province has been a politically important area since 18 BCE, when Korea was divided into three nations during the Three Kingdoms period. Ever since King Onjo, the founder of Baekje (one of the three kingdoms), founded the government in Wiryeseong of Hanam, the Han River Valley was absorbed into Goguryeo in the mid-fifth century, and became Silla's territory in the year 553 (the 14th year of King Jinheung). Afterward, the current location of Gyeonggi Province, one of the nine states of Later Silla, was called Hansanju.

The Gyeonggi region started to rise as the central region of Goryeo as King Taejo of Goryeo (the kingdom following Silla) set up the capital in Gaesong. Since 1018 (the 9th year of Goryeo’s King Hyeonjong), this area has been officially called "Gyeonggi."

During the Joseon, which was founded after the Goryeo, King Taejo of Joseon set the capital in Hanyang, while restructuring Gyeonggi's area to include Gwangju, Suwon, Yeoju, and Anseong, along with the southeast region. Since the period of King Taejong and Sejong the Great, the Gyeonggi region has been very similar to the current administrative area of Gyeonggi Province.

In 1895 the 23-Bu system, which reorganized administrative areas, was effected. The Gyeonggi region was divided into Hanseong (modern Seoul; Hanseong-bu; 한성부; 漢城府), Incheon (Incheon-bu; 인천부; 仁川府), Chungju (Chungju-bu; 충주부; 忠州府), Gongju (Gongju-bu; 공주부; 公州府), and Kaesong (Kaesong-bu; 개성부; 開城府).

During the Japanese colonial period Hanseong-bu was incorporated into Gyeonggi Province. On October 1, 1910, it was renamed Keijo and a provincial government was placed in Keijo according to the reorganization of administrative districts.

After liberation and the foundation of two Korean governments, Gyeonggi Province and its capital, Seoul, were separated with partial regions of Gyeonggi Province being incorporated into Seoul thereafter. Additionally, Kaesong became North Korean territory, the only city to change control after the countries were divided at the 38th parallel, which is now part of North Korea's North Hwanghae Province.

In 1967 the seat of the Gyeonggi provincial government was transferred from Seoul to Suwon. After Incheon separated from Gyeonggi Province in 1981, Gyeonggi regions such as Ongjin County and Ganghwa County were incorporated into Incheon in 1995.

Geography

Gyeonggi Province is the western central region of the Korean Peninsula, which is vertically situated in Northeast Asia and is between east longitude of 126 and 127, and north latitude of 36 and 38. Its dimension is 10% of Korea’s territory, 10,171 square kilometres (3,927 sq mi). It is in contact with 86 kilometres (53 mi) of cease-fire line to the north, 413 kilometres (257 mi) of coastline to the west, Gangwon Province to the east, North Chungcheong Province and South Chungcheong Province to the south, and has Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea, in its center. Its provincial government is in Suwon, but some of its government buildings are in Uijeongbu for the administrative conveniences of the northern region.

Nature and national parks

The topography of Gyeonggi Province is divided into southern and northern areas by the Han River, which flows from east to west. The area north to the Han River is mainly mountainous, while the southern area is mainly plain.

The configuration of Gyeonggi Province is represented by Dong-go-seo-jeo (high in the east and low in the west), where the Gwangju Mountain Range and the Charyeong Mountain Range spreads from the east and drops in elevation in the west. The fields of Gimpo, Gyeonggi, and Pyeongtaek extend to the west.

Gyeonggi Province boasts beautiful nature stocked with rivers, lakes, mountains, and seas. Its representative rivers are the Hangang, Imjingang, and Anseongcheon (Stream), which flow into the Yellow Sea, with Gyeonggi Plain, Yeonbaek Plain and Anseong Plain forming a fertile field area around the rivers. The Gwangju Mountain Range and the Charyeong Mountain Range stretch toward China in Gyeonggi Province. Most of the mountains that rise above 1,000 metres (3,300 ft), such as Myeongjisan (1,267 metres (4,157 ft)), Gukmangbong (1,168 metres (3,832 ft)) and Yongmunsan (1,157 metres (3,796 ft)), are included in the Gwangju Mountain Range. It has a developed granite area which, due to the granite’s exfoliation effect, makes it full of strangely shaped cliffs and deep valleys. The Charyeong Mountain Range forms the boundary between Gyeonggi Province and North Chungcheong Province, but is a relatively low-altitude hilly area.

In Gyeonggi Province, there is Bukhansan National Park in Uijeongbu. For provincial parks, there are the Chukryeongsan Natural Recreation Area, Namhan-sanseong Provincial Park, Gapyeong Yeoninsan Provincial Park, and Mulhyanggi Arboretum. Besides the listed, the scenery of well-known mountains including Soyosan of Dongducheon City, Yongmunsan of Yangpyeong County, and Gwanaksan of Anyang and Gwacheon, along with Hangang and Imjingang are famous tourism sites of Gyeonggi Province.

Population

Gyeonggi Province has shown a rapid increase in population due to the modernization and urbanization of the Republic of Korea. Its population has increased from 2,748,765 in 1960 to 3,296,950 in 1970; 4,933,862 in 1980; 6,619,629 in 1992; 8,982,298 in 2000; and 12,071,884 in 2010. In 2010 there were 4,527,282 households, with an average of 3 people per family. There were 6,112,339 males and 5,959,545 females. The population density was 1119 people/km2, almost double the national average of 486 people/km2.

Excluding the two metropolitan cities (Seoul and Incheon), the most heavily populated area as of 2010 is Suwon (1,104,681) followed by Seongnam (996,524), Goyang (962,297), Yongin (891,708), Bucheon (890,875) and Ansan (753,862). The lowest populated area in 2010 was Yeoncheon County (45,973) followed by Gapyeong County (59,916) and Gapyeong County (72,595).

Transportation

Gyeonggi Province's proximity to Seoul, Korea's capital, and Incheon, its second busiest port, has contributed to its extremely well-developed transportation infrastructure. It is close to both Incheon International Airport, South Korea's main international gateway and busiest airport, and Gimpo International Airport, its second busiest airport. Use of water transportation from the harbor at Pyeongtaek is also high.

Road

The road pavement rate throughout the province averages 86.5 percent. The area has access to many of South Korea's expressways, including

• No. 1 Gyeongbu Expressway, Seoul–Busan
• No. 15 Seohaean Expressway, Seoul–Mokpo
• No. 35 Jungbu Expressway, Seoul–Tongyeong
• No. 37 Second Jungbu Expressway, Seoul–Yongin
• No. 45 Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway, Yeoju–Gimcheon
• No. 50 Yeongdong Expressway, Incheon–Gangneung
• No. 60 Seoul–Yangyang Expressway, Seoul–Chuncheon
• No. 100 Seoul Ring Expressway
• No. 110 Second Gyeongin Expressway, Incheon–Anyang
• No. 120 Gyeongin Expressway, Seoul–Incheon
• No. 130 Incheon International Airport Expressway, Incheon International Airport–Seoul

Rail

Gyeonggi is served by Korail commuter, standard and high-speed (KTX) services. It is home to Korea's first railroad, the Gyeongin Line, and includes portions of the Gyeongbu Line, Gyeongui Line, Jungang Line, and Honam Line. Gyeonggi has stations on the Suin, Bundang, Gyeongchun, and Shinbundang commuter rail services and the Gyeongbu and Honam High Speed Railways.

The area has numerous connections to the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system. Seoul Subway Line 1 (formerly Korea National Railroad of Seoul) extends to Cheonan past Gyeonggi Province to the southwest, and to Dongducheon to the north. Line 3 connects to Goyang to the north, while Line 4 is connected to Gwacheon and Ansan to the southwest, and Line 7 is connected to Uijeongbu to the north and Gwangmyeong to the south. Line 8 is extended to Seongnam to the south.

Uijeongbu has its own light rail system, the U Line, which connects to Line 1.

A portion of the AREX line between the Gimpo and Incheon airports passes through Gyeonggi, but there are no stops within the province.

Culture

Historical landmarks

Gyeonggi Province has long been a capital area, leaving many historic relics and ruins. For royal tombs (called reung), there are Donggureung of Guri, and Gwangreung, Hongreung and Yureung of Namyangju. For castles (called seong), there are Suwon Hwaseong, which is designated as the World Cultural Heritage, Namwonsanseong, Haengjusanseong, and Ganghwasanseong. For Buddhist temples, there are many aged temples within Gyeonggi Province where one can experience ‘temple stay’. You can view folk culture in the Korean Folk Village in Yongin, and the scene of Korea’s division at Panmunjom in Paju.

Performing arts

Gyeonggi Province is investing a lot of money at a provincial level so that people do not have to go to Seoul to enjoy a high-class cultural life. There are performances at Gyeonggi Arts Center in Suwon as well as at Gyeonggi Korean Traditional Music Center in Yongin. Gyeonggi Provincial Museum in Yongin, Nam June Paik Art Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Museum of Art in Ansan, and the Ceramics Museum in Gwangju are some of the facilities that are currently run by the province. There are also sightseeing opportunities at Jangheung Art Park, Publication Art Complex at Heyri, Paju, and the Icheon Ceramics Exposition.

Heyri Art Valley

Heyri Art Valley is Korea's largest art town. Various Korean artists constructed the cultural town of Heyri and it features seberal art galleries and museums there are about 40 museums, exhibitions, concert halls and bookstores.

According to the census of 2005, of the people of Gyeonggi 34.3% follow Christianity (21.9% Protestantism and 12.4% Catholicism) and 16.8% follow Buddhism. 51.1% of the population is mostly not religious or follow Islam or indigenous religions.

Tourism

Entertainment

• Everland theme park in Yongin-si
• Korean Folk Village in Yongin-si
• Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Dramia at Cheoin-gu in Yongin-si; is the filming location of historical dramas such as Moon Embracing the Sun, Jumong, Queen Seondeok and Dong Yi. Viewing tours are available, which includes traditional folk games, historical court dress and archery.
• Hallyuworld theme park, which is based on the ‘Korean Fever’, is under construction in Goyang
• Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon, which has the Korea’s National Museum of Contemporary Art and a zoo * ski and golf resorts
• Icheon Hot Spring

Gourmet

Gyeonggi Province has long been famous for its Icheon rice, Yangpyeong Korean beef, Suwon cow ribs and Korean court cuisine, and marine delicacies made of fresh marine products from the west coast.

Festival

Area Festival Name Period Main Contents Sponsor/Supervision Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival October Great King Jeong Jo parade, Hwaryeongjeon Heondarae, re-presentation of the 60th birthday banquet of Hyekyeongung Hong, re-presentation of Kwageo (state examination during the Joseon Dynasty)

National housewife scenery festival, traditional flag game, culture and art festival, international food festival, drawing of Mars

Suwon City, Hwaseong Cultural Festival Committee KBS Drama Festival August ~ October KBS Magic, Studio Tour, digital image machinery, public broadcasting, reconstructions of historical dramas, national amateur image contest Suwon City, KBS Seongnam Seongnam Global Folk Art Festival May Global folk dancing, music and clothing festival with 400 performers from 12 different countries participating Seongnam/Gyeongpyeong International Co., Ltd. Seongnam Cultural Art Festival May~June, September~October International / dance / music / play / movie festivals, art / picture exhibitions, citizen composition contest, citizen singing contest Seongnam City, Seongnam Art Assembly and Members Moran 5-Day Folk Festival April Traditional folk art performances, reminiscent folk song stage, art performance of modern taste Moran 5-Day Folk Festival Committee Seongnam Art Village Lotus Festival July Lotus and nature workbook exhibition, lotus food and local food corner Lotus Festival Committee Anyang Anyang Cultural Art Festival Mid-May Culture and art events such as art, music, dancing and plays Anyang Cultural Center and Art Assembly Anyang Branch Anyang Citizen Festival October Local festival full of things to see / play / buy / eat Anyang City/Anyang Citizen Festival Committee Goyang Goyang Haengju Cultural Festival April Seungjeon Street Parade, folk contest, Haengju Daecheop memorial services and rites Goyang City/Goyang Cultural Center Bucheon Boksagol Art Festival May Student and citizen composition contest, street festival, image and picture subscription, art festival, citizen singing contest, dance contest, family musicals for children, play contest, music contest, citizen movie contest, citizen photography contest Korea Art Assembly Bucheon Branch Ansan Danwon Art Festival (Kim Hong-do Festival) September Art Contest: art subscription contest, art appreciation classroom, street art contest

Ansan Kim Hong-do Festival: Danwon PR Hall, antique necessity products exhibition, yard play, art experience, traditional eateries

Ansan City/Danwon Art Festival Committee Byeolmangseong Art Festival September Byeolmangseong Festival, Byeolchomu performance, fireworks, teenager play festival, national music festival, other art events Ansan City/Ansan Art Assembly Seongho Cultural Festival May Seongho admiration services, National Cultural Festival performances, Gyeonggi folk song choir performance, Seongho ideology academic contest, other events Ansan City/Ansan Cultural Center Uijeongbu Tongil Art Festival June Exhibition, traditional dance performance, Hanmaeum Citizen Singing Contest, composition contest, modern arts invitation Art Assembly Uijeongbu Branch Hoeryong Cultural Festival October Reproduction of royal parade, exhibition, dragon dance, yard drama Uijeongbu Cultural Center Uijeongbu International Music Performance Festival May Overseas group invitation/performance, college student showcase event, exhibition Uijeongbu Arts Center Namyangju Dasan Cultural Festival September~October Awarding of Dasanmokmin Award, literature contest, traditional folk performance experience event Namyangju City/Namyangju Cultural Center Namyangju Outdoor Performance Festival August Invitation/performance of famous domestic/foreign performers, teenager get-together yard, experience event Namyangju City Gwangmyeong Gureum Mt. Art Festival October National Music Festival, art exhibition, painting exhibition, picture exhibition, composition contest, student music contest, play performance, National Music Contest Art Assembly Gwangmyeong Branch/Respective Associations Ori Cultural Festival May Lecture on the life and ideology of Lee Won-ik, yard games, picture drawing, musicals, shortened marathon, masque dance performance Gwangmyeong Cultural Center Siheung Mulwang Art Festival May National music yard festival, literature and art event, citizen singing contest Art Assembly Siheung Branch/Siheung City Hall Yeonseong Cultural Festival October Juvenile drama, composition contest, open concert, totem trimming and services Siheung Cultural Center/Siheung City Hall Gunpo Gunpo Citizen’s Grand Festival April Masquerade parade, street exhibition, village concert, silver festival, photography contest Gunpo Cultural Information Department Cheoljjuk Dongsan Festival April Exhibitions and concerts Guri Guri Han River Rape Flower Festival May Fly away butterflies, concerts, citizen singer contests, art, writing contest, photography contest, teenager rock concert Guri/Korea Art Assembly Guri Branch Guri Cosmos Festival September Eve celebration, Chinese arts circus, open-air movie appreciation, smiling picture photography, experience events Guri/Korea Art Assembly Guri Branch Hanam Hanam Iseong Cultural Festival September Public broadcast attraction, provincial troupe performance, citizen performance, citizen participation yard Hanam City Hall/Hanam Cultural Center Uiwang Uiwang Baekwun Art Festival October Walking on old street in Uiwang, I am an Artist Events: composition contest, sketch contest, fairy tale recital, puppet show, scenery games, making traditional toys, guitar performance Uiwang Baekwun Art Festival Committee Anseong Anseong Namsadang Bawudeogi Festival September Art and science contest, taffy seller play, masque performance, tightrope walking performance, Baudeoki PR Hall, wayfaring male entertainer play of 6 yards, street play, general play, yard play, folk market and cattle market remake Anseong Anseong Juksan International Art Festival June Dance, music, creative performance, Avantgarde Exhibition with globally famous artists, make-your-own-product with artists, film contest Smile Stone Co., Ltd. Juksan Children Festival May For-children performance twice a day, experience Festival Troupe Mucheon Yangju Yangju Traditional Culture and Art Festival May Intangible cultural assets and traditional folk art performance Yangju Festival Committee Yangju Cultural Festival October Traditional folk art performance and participation event, unit event Osan Doksanseong Culture and Art Festival September Art events such as culture event performance, citizen participation yard Osan City/Osan Cultural Center Yeoju Sejong Cultural Grand Feast October Resident concert, Hangeul writing contest, empress travel, exhibitions, national picture subscription Yeoju City, Yeoju Cultural Center

Art Assembly Yeoju Branch

Yeoju Ceramics Exposition May Ceramics sales event, igniting of traditional oven, exhibition/performance event and experience event Yeoju, Yeoju Ceramics Exposition Yeoju Artifact Exhibition October Farm products exhibition, outstanding product sales, international sweet potato cooking contest, farming experience event (sweet potato tour) Yeoju Artifact Exhibition Committee

Yeoju Agricultural Technology Center

Myeongseong

Empress Anniversary

October Yeongsan memorial services, hyewon exorcism Yeoju City, Yeoju Cultural Center Paju Yulgok Cultural Festival September Chuhyang ritual at Jawun Auditorium, art and science symposium, reconstruction of Confucian parade, Yulgok and Chinese poem writing contest, native writer invitation, calligraphy contest Paju City/Paju Cultural Center Paju Children Book Hanmadang October Publications exhibition and sales, book culture hanmadang, seminar games hanmadang, experience & study Paju City, Paju Publication Complex Heyri Festival October Art and plastic product exhibition at Heyri Village, construction tourism, performance, percussion, dance, play, classic jazz, workshop classrooms Paju City, Paju Construction Committee, Heyri Festival Committee Paju Art Festival May Music performance, national music performance, literature seminar, literary writing contest, art association member exhibition Paju City/Paju Art Assembly Dongducheon Dongducheon Rock Festival August Multi-day concert event featuring local, national, and international rock music performances. Dongducheon, Soyosan Tourist Resort

Sisterhood Relations

• Utah, United States
• Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
• Liaoning Province, China
• North Holland, Netherlands
• Gauteng, South Africa
• State of Mexico, Mexico
• Virginia, United States
• Alto Paraná Department, Paraguay
• Queensland, Australia
• Catalonia, Spain
• Florida, United States
• Guangdong Province, China
• British Columbia, Canada
• Hebei Province, China
• Shandong Province, China
• Taiwan Province, Republic of China