 | This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
Paju 파주시 | |
|---|---|
| Korean transcription(s) | |
| • Hangul | 파주시 |
| • Hanja | 坡州市 |
| • Revised Romanization | Paju-si |
| • McCune–Reischauer | P'aju-si |
 Rail line crossing theImjin River | |
 Flag | |
 Location in South Korea | |
  Paju  Paju | |
| Coordinates:37°52′N126°48′E / 37.867°N 126.800°E /37.867; 126.800 | |
| Country |  South Korea |
| Region | Gyeonggi Province (Sudogwon) |
| Administrative divisions | 4eup, 9myeon, 10dong[2] |
| Government | |
| • mayor | Kim Gyeong-il (김경일) |
| Area | |
• Total | 672.78 km2 (259.76 sq mi) |
| Population (March 2024) | |
• Total | 520,803[1] |
| • Density | 774.11/km2 (2,004.9/sq mi) |
| • Dialect | Seoul |
Paju (Korean: 파주;Korean pronunciation:[pʰɐ.d͡ʑu.]) is acity inGyeonggi Province, South Korea. Paju was made a city in 1997; it had previously been a county (gun).[3]
The city area of Paju is 672.78 km2 (259.76 sq mi),[4] and it is located just south ofPanmunjeom on the38th parallel. In 2024, the population of Paju was over 501,000.[4] To defend the South Korean capital,Seoul, many U.S. and South Korean Army bases are set up in the area.[5] In 2002, the northernmost South Korean railway station,Dorasan, was opened on theGyeongui Line.[citation needed] North Korean territory and the cityKaesong can be seen from Paju's mountainDorasan.
Paju has seen steady residential growth due to its proximity toSeoul. The city is connected to Seoul via theGyeongui–Jungang Line and several express bus routes, with travel times to central Seoul typically under an hour. These transportation links have contributed to Paju’s development as a commuter city. In addition to residential areas, Paju is home to cultural and tourism sites such asHeyri Art Valley,Paju Book City, andImjingak Peace Park, attracting both residents and visitors. The city also hosts several large-scale retail complexes, includingShinsegae Paju Premium Outlets andLotte Premium Outlet Paju Branch, which attract significant foot traffic from nearby regions.
The cosmos is a representative flower that grows during spring in Paju. It has very strong vitality, and symbolizes unity and harmonious life as a citizen of Paju. The flowers have different colors, including pale pink and red.[citation needed]
Ginkgos are usually planted as street trees. People can obtain high-quality wood from them.[citation needed] Also, their leaves and fruits are used as a valuable medicine.
Pigeons are meek and gentle with soft feathers that follow humans well. They symbolize the peace and security of mankind, and they mean to desire the unification of the Korean Peninsula and the well-being of citizens.[citation needed]
The badge brings the look of Paju implicitly.[clarification needed] Semiconductors, which symbolize high-tech industry, high-quality culture, and books, and life based on the shape of the rice industry, have represented the badge with the symbol Paju logo.[6]
Paju has lowlands in the east and west.[citation needed] Many mountains are also located in eastern Paju, forming the border with Yangju. In northern Paju, mountains form the border with Goyang. Moreover, in central Paju, some lower mountains spread towards the south. The major rivers in Paju are the Imjin River and the Han River. The Imjin River flows from the northwest to the west, and the Han River flows in the southwest of Paju.[citation needed]
Paju has a monsoon-influencedhumid continental climate (Köppen:Dwa) with cold, dry winters and hot, rainy summers. The average annual temperature of Paju is 11 °C, the average January temperature is -4.6 °C and the average temperature is 25 °C in August. Lastly, the annual precipitation of Paju is around 1,300 mm.[4]
| Climate data for Paju (2002–2020 normals, extremes 2002–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 13.4 (56.1) | 17.4 (63.3) | 23.1 (73.6) | 32.0 (89.6) | 32.0 (89.6) | 35.3 (95.5) | 36.7 (98.1) | 37.6 (99.7) | 34.5 (94.1) | 29.0 (84.2) | 26.1 (79.0) | 16.2 (61.2) | 37.6 (99.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 1.8 (35.2) | 5.2 (41.4) | 11.2 (52.2) | 17.9 (64.2) | 23.8 (74.8) | 27.5 (81.5) | 28.8 (83.8) | 29.9 (85.8) | 26.1 (79.0) | 20.3 (68.5) | 11.6 (52.9) | 3.2 (37.8) | 17.3 (63.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −4.6 (23.7) | −1.3 (29.7) | 4.4 (39.9) | 10.8 (51.4) | 16.8 (62.2) | 21.4 (70.5) | 24.2 (75.6) | 24.9 (76.8) | 19.9 (67.8) | 12.6 (54.7) | 5.2 (41.4) | −2.6 (27.3) | 11.0 (51.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −10.6 (12.9) | −7.3 (18.9) | −1.9 (28.6) | 4.1 (39.4) | 10.7 (51.3) | 16.5 (61.7) | 20.8 (69.4) | 21.2 (70.2) | 15.1 (59.2) | 6.5 (43.7) | −0.4 (31.3) | −8.0 (17.6) | 5.6 (42.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −25.9 (−14.6) | −24.6 (−12.3) | −10.9 (12.4) | −5.0 (23.0) | 1.7 (35.1) | 9.1 (48.4) | 14.3 (57.7) | 11.5 (52.7) | 4.2 (39.6) | −5.5 (22.1) | −11.1 (12.0) | −20.1 (−4.2) | −25.9 (−14.6) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 17.4 (0.69) | 27.9 (1.10) | 31.5 (1.24) | 74.2 (2.92) | 102.0 (4.02) | 107.4 (4.23) | 395.2 (15.56) | 282.9 (11.14) | 134.5 (5.30) | 50.1 (1.97) | 52.7 (2.07) | 20.0 (0.79) | 1,295.8 (51.02) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) | 4.6 | 5.1 | 7.0 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 9.9 | 15.8 | 14.5 | 8.4 | 5.7 | 8.8 | 7.4 | 105 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 65.2 | 62.7 | 62.2 | 63.0 | 69.6 | 75.0 | 84.1 | 83.5 | 79.4 | 74.8 | 71.4 | 68.1 | 71.6 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 193.0 | 184.2 | 212.4 | 208.8 | 234.4 | 209.1 | 137.6 | 171.1 | 187.5 | 210.8 | 163.6 | 175.8 | 2,288.3 |
| Source:Korea Meteorological Administration[7][8] | |||||||||||||
Heyri Art Valley is the largest art village in South Korea, and its Korean culture and many genres of art attract visitors. The area includes residences, workrooms, and galleries for artists, museums, and performance spaces designed by artists. It was planned from 1998, and its name, Heyri, is derived from a traditional farming song of Paju. Architects tried to combine the view of nature with the valley when they made plans. The valley hosts art performances appealing to audiences of all ages. The attractive theme brings people to visit every weekend, and more people visit the valley in spring and autumn because it holds an art festival during these seasons.[9]
Imjingak is a park located on the banks of the Imjin River along the tracks of the former Gyeongui Train Line outside Paju. The park has many statues and monuments regarding the Korean War. There is also a restaurant, an observation deck, a pool in the shape of the Korean peninsula, and even a small amusement park.[citation needed]
Jangdan beans are one of Paju's famous traditional specialties. For a long time, crops have been important for Korean people's livelihood because their land and environment were suited for agriculture. Therefore, two major crops, rice and beans, have been developed over time. Jangdan bean is one of these crops that has been harvested in Paju. The name Jangdan is derived from the name of a village in Paju, which existed before the Korean War. Even though the village is now gone, people still call the bean the Jangdan bean because the former village was so well known for these beans. Today, Jangdan beans are only commonly seen in Panmunjom, which is located at the border between South Korea and North Korea.[10]
The city has threepolytechnic universities, includingDoowon Technical University College.[citation needed]
Paju English Village is a large area that was constructed to teach children English and let them experience Western culture.[citation needed] Hundreds of foreign teachers are employed in the village. The educational village has various curricula to provide several educational programs called "English Camp". To attend the programs, children's parents have to pay and send their children to the village for several days. The length of the program depends on the type of program. People also visit the village because of its visual and new cultural atmosphere.[11]
Paju Challengers is an independent baseball team that has been based in the city.[citation needed]
Paju Frontier will compete inK League 2 from 2026 season after last play in2025 K3 League due to switch from semi-profesional to professional team.
Paju is divided as follows:
The cemetery was established in 1996 to hold the remains ofKorean People's Army and ChinesePeople's Volunteer Army soldiers killed during theKorean War.[12] In March 2014 the Chinese remains were repatriated for reburial inShenyang, China.[13]
Paju istwinned with the following places:[17]
Paju travel guide from WikivoyageSuwon(capital) | ||||||||||||||||||||
 | Specific cities |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Cities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Counties | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,000,000 and more | |
|---|---|
| 1,000,000–1,999,999 | |
| 500,000–999,999 | |
| 200,000–499,999 | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
