Seoul, the nation's largest city and capital, is in the heart of the area but has been separately administered as aprovincial-levelspecial city since 1946.Incheon, the nation's third-largest city, is on the coast of the province and has been similarly administered as aprovincial-levelmetropolitan city since 1981. The three jurisdictions are collectively referred to asSudogwon and cover 11,730 km2 (4,530 sq mi), with a combined population of over 26 million - amounting to over half (50.25%) of the entire population of South Korea at the 2020 census.
Its name,Gyeonggi, means "京 (the capital) and 畿 (the surrounding area)". Thus,Gyeonggi Province can be translated as "Seoul and the surrounding areas of Seoul".[citation needed]
Gyeonggi Province has been a politically important area since 18 BCE, when Korea was divided into three nations during theThree Kingdoms period. Ever sinceKing Onjo, the founder ofBaekje (one of the three kingdoms), founded the government inWiryeseong of Hanam, theHan River Valley was absorbed intoGoguryeo in the mid-fifth century, and becameSilla's territory in the year 553 (the 14th year ofKing Jinheung).[nb 1] Afterward, the current location of Gyeonggi Province, one of the nine states ofLater Silla, was called Hansanju.
The Gyeonggi region started to rise as the central region ofGoryeo asKing Taejo of Goryeo (the kingdom following Silla) set up the capital in Gaesong. Since 1018 (the 9th year of Goryeo'sKing Hyeonjong), this area has been officially called "Gyeonggi".
Headquarters of the provincial governor, Joseon dynasty
During theJoseon, 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 andSejong 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 (modernSeoul),Incheon,Chungju,Gongju, andKaesong.
During theJapanese 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 separate Korean states, Gyeonggi Province and its capital, Seoul, were separated with partial regions of Gyeonggi Province being incorporated into Seoul thereafter in 1946. Additionally, Kaesong becameNorth Korean territory, the only city to change control after the countries were divided at the38th parallel, which is now part of North Korea'sNorth Hwanghae Province.
In 1967 the seat of the Gyeonggi provincial government was transferred from Seoul toSuwon. After Incheon separated from Gyeonggi Province in 1981, Gyeonggi regions such asOngjin County andGanghwa County were incorporated intoIncheon in 1995.
Gyeonggi Province is in 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).[2] 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 andSouth 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 thenorthern region.
The climate of Gyeonggi Province is the continental climate, which has a severe differentiation of temperature between summer and winter, and has distinctions of four seasons. Spring is warm, summer is hot and humid, autumn is cool, and winter is cold and snowy. The annual average temperature is between 11–13 °C (52–55 °F), where the temperature in the mountainous areas to the northeast is lower and the coastal areas to the southwest is higher. For January's average temperature, the Gyeonggi Bay is −4 °C (25 °F), the Namhangang (River) Basin is −4 to −6 °C (25 to 21 °F), and the Bukhangang (River) and Imjingang Basins are −6 to −8 °C (21 to 18 °F). It becomes colder and higher in temperature differentiation from coastal to inland areas. Summer has a lower local differentiation compared to winter. The inland areas are hotter than the Gyeonggi Bay area, the hottest area isPyeongtaek, making the average temperature of August 26.5 °C (79.7 °F).
The annual average precipitation is around 1,100 millimetres (43 in), with a lot of rainfall. It is rainy in summer and dry during winter. The northeastern inland areas of Bukhangang and the upper stream of Imjingang has a precipitation of 1,300–1,400 millimetres (51–55 in), whereas the coastal area has only 900 millimetres (35 in) of precipitation.
The topography of Gyeonggi Province is divided intosouthern andnorthern areas by theHan 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 byDong-go-seo-jeo (high in the east and low in the west), where theGwangju 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 natural environment includes its rivers, lakes, mountains, and seas.[citation needed] Its representative rivers are the Hangang, Imjingang, and Anseongcheon Fg(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 asMyeongjisan (1,267 metres (4,157 ft)), Gukmangbong (1,168 metres (3,832 ft)) and Yongmunsan (1,157 metres (3,796 ft)) in theGwangju Mountain Range. It iriidcKtihas 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 andNorth Chungcheong Province, but is a relatively low-altitude hilly area.
In Gyeonggi Province, there isBukhansan National Park in Uijeongbu. For provincial parks, there are the Chukryeongsan Natural Recreation Area, Namhan-sanseong Provincial Park, GapyeongYeoninsan Provincial Park, and Mulhyanggi Arboretum. Besides the listed, the scenery of well-known mountains including Soyosan of Dongducheon City, Yongmunsan ofYangpyeong County, andGwanaksan ofAnyang andGwacheon, along with Hangang and Imjingang are tourist sites of Gyeonggi Province.
Population decrease between 1960-1970 is due to Incheon being excluded from population figures from there. Source:[3]
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 3,703,761 in 1980; 6,050,943 in 1990; 8,984,134 in 2000; 11,379,459 in 2010; and 13,511,676 in 2020.[4]
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 1,119 people/km2, almost double the national average of 486 people/km2.
As the backbone of Seoul in the means of manufacturing complex, Gyeonggi Province is evenly developed inheavy industry (electronics, machine, heavy and chemical industry, steel),light industry (textile), and farm, livestock and fisheries industry. Due to the influence of recent high wages, the weight of manufacturing industries has decreased in Korea's economy. Gyeonggi Province is making efforts in many ways to improve and modernize the conventional industry structure, resulting in quick growth of innovativesmall and medium-sized enterprises such asU-JIN Tech Corp. Gyeonggi Province is unsparingly investing in the promotion of service industries related to soft competitive power such as state-of-the-art IT industry, designing, conventions and tourism, along with its great leap as a commercial hub in Northeast Asia using the Pyeongtaek Harbor.[5]
Besides this, it is known for its special local products such as Icheon rice and Gwangju ceramics. Leading companies representing Korea, includingSamsung Electronics' headquarters,SK Hynix's headquarters,NAVER's headquarters,Samsung SDI's headquarters, andPaju LG Corporation's LCD complex, are gathered in southern Gyeonggi Province, including Suwon City.[6]
Gyeonggi Province consists of 28 cities (special: 7, normal: 21) and three counties.[7] This is because many counties were elevated to city status owing to the influence of Seoul's new town development plan. Special cities are especially concentrated in the southern area of Gyeonggi Province.
Listed below is each entity's name in English,Hangul andHanja.
Gyeonggi Province's proximity to Seoul, South Korea's capital, and Incheon, its second-busiest port, has contributed to its extremely well-developed transportation infrastructure. It is close to bothIncheon International Airport, South Korea's main international gateway and busiest airport, andGimpo International Airport, its second-busiest airport. Use of water transportation from the harbor atPyeongtaek is also high.
The area has numerous connections to theSeoul Metropolitan Subway system.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, whileLine 4 is connected to Gwacheon and Ansan to the southwest.Line 7 is connected to Uijeongbu to the north and Gwangmyeong to the south,Line 8 is connected to Seongnam to the south, while theGTX-A line connectsPaju andGoyang toYeonsinnae Station inEunpyeong-gu andSeoul Station inJung-gu.
Uijeongbu has its own light rail system, theU Line, which connects to Line 1.
A short section of theAREX line between Gimpo and Incheon airports passes through Gyeonggi, but there are no stops within the province.
Gyeonggi Province is actively investing in education to foster a talented population suitable for the globalized economy. It is promoting the opening of local campuses of reputable universities as well as establishing special purpose high schools for high-quality education. It has also founded and operates atPaju the largest domestic "English village" for education in theEnglish language, as well as villages in Ansan and Yangpyeong.
Gyeonggi Province has long been a capital area, leaving many historic relics and ruins. For royal tombs (called reung), there are Donggureung ofGuri, and Gwangreung, Hongreung and Yureung ofNamyangju. For castles (called seong), there areSuwon Hwaseong, which is designated as the World Cultural Heritage,Namwonsanseong,Haengjusanseong,Ganghwasanseong, andDoksan Fortress. For Buddhist temples, there are many aged temples within Gyeonggi Province where one can experience 'temple stay'. You can view folk culture in theKorean Folk Village inYongin, and the scene of Korea's division atPanmunjom inPaju.
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 inYongin. Gyeonggi Provincial Museum inYongin,Nam June Paik Art Center inYongin, Gyeonggi Museum of Art inAnsan, and the Ceramics Museum inGwangju 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 is Korea's largest art town. Various Korean artists constructed the cultural town of Heyri and it features several art galleries and museums; there are about 40 museums, exhibitions, concert halls and bookstores.
Gyeonggi Province has long been famous for itsIcheon rice,Yangpyeong Korean beef,Suwon cow ribs and Korean court cuisine, and marine delicacies made of fresh marine products from the west coast.
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 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 Street Arts Festival is street arts gala as a part of performing arts, which started in 2005 at Ansan and held in every May.
Ansan City/Ansan Culture Square area
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
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
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
^abcd"Kyonggi-do".eBird. May 4, 2019.Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. RetrievedApril 27, 2023.
^수원수목원 서포터즈, 일월공원 서식 조류 모니터링 [Suwon Arboretum supporters monitoring Irwol Park bird habitat].Suwon News (in Korean). October 28, 2021.Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. RetrievedApril 26, 2023.
^토종 양서류 '수원청개구리' 북한에도 산다…충남·전북에선 신종 발견 [The native amphibian ‘Suwon tree frog’ also lives in North Korea… New species discovered in Chungnam and Jeonbuk].Donga Science (in Korean). June 26, 2020.Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. RetrievedJanuary 28, 2024.
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