Gimpo (Korean: 김포;Korean pronunciation:[kim.pʰo]) is acity inGyeonggi Province, South Korea. It bordersIncheon, with which it shares the South Korean side of theHan River estuary, as well asSeoul and the lesser cities ofPaju andGoyang. North Korea is across the Han River. The current mayor isJeong Hayoung [ko]. The city's population of more than 300,000[2] is made up of more than 71,000 households.
Gimpo International Airport (formerly Kimpo International Airport) used to be located inside the city, but is now part ofSeoul. Tertiary educational institutions located in the city includeKimpo College andJoong-ang Seungga University. The city has 27 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, and 8 high schools, includingGimpo Foreign Language High School. Three elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools are located in the area of Tongjin.
In 1914, Yangcheon County and Gimpo County were merged. Yangcheon County was separated into two towns (Yangdong and Yangseo).
Kimpo Airfield was constructed in 1939 during theJapanese Imperial period for use by theImperial Japanese Army. The airfield was a key asset during theKorean War, changing hands three times before being recaptured and held by UN forces in February 1951 for the duration of the war. Designated K-14 by theUnited States Air Force, it hosted several U.S. fighter, bomber, and reconnaissance units, notablyF-86 Sabre which would engage in air combat inMiG Alley in the northwestern part of North Korea.
In 1958, the government decreed that the airfield would serve all commercial flights into Seoul, a role until then filled byYeouido Airport. After the completion of the terminal at Gimpo, Yeouido was demolished.
In 1963, Yangdong and Yangseo towns were incorporated intoYeongdeungpo District, which includesGimpo International Airport. In 1973, Gyeyang and Ojeong towns ofBucheon were transferred to Gimpo. In 1989, parts of Gyeyang town were ceded toIncheon, giving Incheon a border with southwestern Seoul. The Geomdan area was transferred to Incheon in 1995.
In 1998, Gimpo was promoted to a city (si). A major new development, the Gimpo Han River New Town, was announced in 2003, significantly increasing the population of the city since its construction. A two-car light rail system, theGimpo Goldline, opened in 2019 to improve transportation to the New Town and to encourage population growth. The line operates betweenYangchon station andGimpo International Airport station, where transfers are available toAREX,Korail, andSeoul Metropolitan Subway services.
Gimpo's gross domestic product in 2012 was 16.98 trillion won, accounting for 2.2% of the total in Gyeonggi Province. Among them, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries (primary industry) accounted for 248.5 billion won. In contrast, mining and manufacturing (second industry) accounted for 63.1% of the total, while commercial and service industries account for 35.3%, or 5.6869 trillion won. In the second industrial sector, wholesale and retail businesses (5.4%), construction (4.7%), real estate and rental businesses (3.7%), and electricity, gas, steam, and water projects (3.0%) accounted for a large portion, as the new Gimpo Han River is built.[4]
In 2014, the Gimpo industry's total number stood at 129,440, accounting for 2.9% of the total number of workers in Gyeonggi Province. Among them, agriculture and forestry (primary industry) account for 93 people. In contrast, mining and manufacturing (second industry) account for 48.6% of 62,946, while commercial and service industries (third industry) account for 51.3% with 66,401. The secondary industry is higher than the overall proportion of Gyeonggi Province (27.1%), and the tertiary industry is lower than the overall proportion of Gyeonggi Province (72.9%). In the third industrial sector, wholesale and retail (12.1%), lodging and restaurant (7.7%), education and services (6.2%), and health and social welfare (5.2%).[4]
As of 2010, Gimpo's city had 215,050 residents and 227,159 weekly population, with the weekly population index high at 106. The number of people flowing in from commuting to work is 45,757. The number of people leaving from school is 31,213, and 2,687 and 5,122 more people flowing from school, a common phenomenon in the outskirts of the Seoul metropolitan area where many industrial facilities have been relocated.[4]