Pyeongchang (English:/ˌpjʌŋˈtʃɑːŋ/pyung-CHAHNG,[3]Korean:[pʰjʌŋtɕʰaŋ]; in full,Pyeongchang-gun[pʰjʌŋtɕʰaŋɡun]) is acounty in the province ofGangwon-do, South Korea, located in theTaebaek Mountains region. It is home to severalBuddhist temples, includingWoljeongsa. It is about 180 km (110 mi) east southeast ofSeoul, the capital of South Korea, and connected by expressways and high-speed passenger railways. Pyeongchang's slogan, "Happy 700 Pyeongchang", is taken from its averageelevation of approximately 700 metres (2,300 ft).
Pyeongchang region was ruled by theGoguryeo Dynasty during theThree Kingdoms period, and it was called Uk-o-hyeon (욱오현).[7] After theSilla dynasty conquered the Goguryeo Dynasty andBaekje Dynasty, it was renamed Baek-o-hyeon (백오현).[8]
After theGoryeo Dynasty was established, it renamed Pyeongchang-hyeon. Then, it was under control ofWonju.[9] When a 10-provincial system was enforced, the north of Pyeongchang region was involved in Sakbang-do, and the south of the region was involved in Jungwon-do. When a new administrative system was carried out by KingHyeonjong, the east of the region was involved in Dong-gyeo, and the rest of it was included in Yanggwang-do. An administrator for the region was sent from the central government, and it became independent of Wonju in 1299.[10]
When theJoseon Dynasty was founded in 1392, the region was promoted from ahyeon to acounty (gun).[11] After the territory was divided into8 Provinces under the reign of KingTaejong, it was involved inGangwon-do.[12] After the territory was divided into 23 districts in 1895 with the 8-provincial system abolished, it was included in Chugju-bu. When a 13-provincial system was enacted in 1896, it was involved in Gangwon-do.[13]
Pyeongchang, Gangwon – winter is cold but relatively dry, with clear blue skies.Geology of Pyeongchang and Jeongseon area.
The altitude of Pyeongchang is wide-ranging, with 84% of its territory comprising mountains with average elevations of 750 m (2,460 ft).[14]
Its best-known place, the township ofDaegwallyeong-myeon, averages between 700 and 800 m (2,300 and 2,600 ft) above sea level, with some areas over 1,000 m (3,300 ft) high.[15]
Average temperature of Pyeongchang from 2001 to 2010 was 7.1 °C, and it was lower thanGangwon's 9.0 °C. Annualprecipitation of the region from 2001 to 2010 was 1,555.0 mm, and it was more than Gangwon's 1,491.5 mm.[18]
The warmest months of the year are July and August, with January and February being the coldest.
Climate data forDaegwallyeong, Pyeongchang (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–present)
In Pyeongchang, 16 heritage sites were registered by the South Korean government, and 45 Heritages were registered by the Gangwon Provincial Office.
The count of cultural heritage designations is as follows.
Registered by the Nation: 5 National Treasures, 5 Treasures, 1 Historic Site, 3 Natural Monuments, 1 National Folklore Cultural Heritage, 1 Registered Cultural Heritage
Registered by the local government: 29 Tangible Cultural Heritages, 2 Intangible Cultural Heritages, 4 Monuments, 10 Cultural Heritage Materials
Sangwonsa is a temple onOdaesan Mountain that was originally established as Jinyeowon in 705. Although theJoseon Dynasty's policy was the prohibition ofBuddhism, it constantly donated to rebuild the temple. In 1401, KingTaejong donated to the construction of Sajaam Hermitage. In 1465, KingSejo and administrators donated to rebuild the temple.[22] Sejo's son, KingYejong designated it as a memorial for his father. During theThird Battle of Seoul, theUnited Nations Command ordered that the temple be burned, but a Buddhist monk prevented it. Instead, the Command agreed to burn only the doors of the temple.[23]
Sangwonsa has the following cultural heritage sites:
Woljeongsa is a temple onOdaesan Mountain established byJajang the monk in 643. After it was established, it was consistently rebuilt. During theThird Battle of Seoul, 10 buildings were totally destroyed by fire. Tanheo the monk restored Jeokgwangjeon, one of the burnt buildings, in 1964, and Manhwa the monk gradually reconstructed other buildings.[24]
Woljeongsa has the following cultural heritage sites:
Octagonal Nine-story Stone Pagoda of Woljeongsa (National Treasure No. 48-1)
Reliquaries of the Octagonal Nine-story Stone Pagoda of Woljeongsa (Treasure No. 1375)
Stone seated figure of the Bodhisattva in Woljeongsa (National Treasure No. 48-2)
Painting of Three Bodhisattvas originated from Wonju Guryongsa (Treasure No. 1855) (Placed in Wolljeongsa, possessed by Guryongsa)
Clothes of the Buddhist monk Han-am (Registered Cultural Heritage No. 645)
Daegwallyeong Snow Festival began as "Daegwallyeong Winter Snow Festival" in 1992 by Daegwallyeong Ski Club. In 1993, the first festival was formally held. Events of the 1st festival were skiing competition for locals, games of making snowmen, snow sledge competition, and sledge competition. Some games were added to next festivals, such as traditional games and snow car raising.[25]
On 7–22 Feb 2018, 26th festival was held in hwenggye-ri,Daegwallyeong-myeon as a pre-event of the2018 Winter Olympics. Events include an exhibition of snow figures, snow sledge competition, international naked marathon, traditional folk performances, and Hwangbyoungsan Mountain hunting game.[26]
Hyoseok Cultural Festival
Pyeongchang is the hometown ofLee Hyo-seok, a Korean novelist,[27] and this festival is held in Lee Hyo-seok Culture Village, where he grew up.[28]
The Lee Seung-bok Memorial Hall is located in Nodong-ri,Yongpyeong-myeon to memorializeLee Seung-bok who was a South Korean boy murdered by North Korean commandos in 1968. It was established in 1982, with building a memorial statue for Lee. Lee's house was restored in 2000.[29]
Odaesan Mountain is the home of historical Buddhist temples includingSangwonsa andWoljeongsa.[30] It was designated as a national park in 1975. The highest peak, Birobong Peak is 1,563 m (5,128 ft) high.[31]
Two major ski resorts in the county were the home of the 2018 Winter Olympics.Alpensia ski resort has six slopes for skiing andsnowboarding, withruns up to 1,400.0 m (4,593.2 ft) long, for beginners and advanced skiers, and an area reserved for snowboarders. The resort is open year-round.[32] Alpensia hosted the majority of the Olympic snow events.[33]Yongpyong Resort, which has a total of 28 ski slopes, hosted the technical alpine skiing events.[34]
Alpensia will be the focus of the 2018Cultural Olympiad, with a new, purpose-builtconcert 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. It is operated as apetting zoo and features a pastoral landscape. The ranch is operated by the leading Korean food and dairy companySamyang Foods, the first company to introduce ramyeon instant noodles into a poverty-ridden South Korea in the 1960s. It is the filming location of the dramaAutumn in My Heart and the movieLover's Concerto.[36]
TheAsian Winter Games was held in 1999 inGangwon Province including Pyeongchang. Originally, it hoped to host the 3rd Asian Winter Games, whichNorth Korea gave up; however,Harbin was announced to host the 3rd Games. It was decided that Gangwon would host the 4th Asian Winter Games at the same time.[37]
For the 2018 Olympics, Pyeongchang was marketed with theCamelCase spelling of "PyeongChang", so the global audience would not confuse it withPyongyang, the capital of neighboringNorth Korea.[40] The two main facilities created for the 2018 Winter Olympics were the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza (where the opening / closing ceremonies and victory ceremonies were held) and theGangneung Olympic Park (where the men's and women's short track, speed skating, figure skating, ice hockey, curling events were held).[41] The2018 Winter Paralympics was held in the same venues starting 9 March 2018.[42]
In preparation for the 2018 Olympics, the region built facilities including hotels and a world-class ski resort, namedAlpensia.
The region also ran the "2018 Dream Program", a program initially created in relation to the 2010 bid. The 2018 Dream Program was the fifth iteration of this sports and cultural program, involving 124 participants from 31 countries, who were invited because they live where there is no snowfall and have no opportunity to participate in winter sports.[43]
Gangwon Province, which includes Pyeongchang, was chosen as the host for the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics. Outdoor venues in Pyeongchang used in the 2018 Winter Olympics have been repurposed for the games.
A newKTX line, named theGyeonggang Line, was built betweenWonju andGangneung via Pyeongchang for the2018 Winter Olympics, connecting Pyeongchang toSeoul with a journey time of less than 80 minutes. The new line, which was officially opened on 22 August 2017, provides a main-line high-speed rail service that passes through Pyeongchang from west to east, with KTX trains calling at Pyeongchang station and Jinbu station (for the Olympic Stadium).[44] KTX trains to Jinbu station were increased for the duration of the 2018 Olympics.[45]
Pyeongchang Bus Terminal and Jangpyeong Bus Terminal, Jinbu Bus Station and Hoenggye Bus Station are the main intercity bus terminals of the county. Daehwa Bus Station is also served by intercity buses.[46]
Transit buses
Local transit operators connect communities in the county to hubs at Pyeongchang Bus Station, Jangpyeong Bus Terminal, and Jinbu Bus Station.
Yeongdong Expressway passes through Pyeongchang from west to east. After the expressway was expanded in 1999 for theWinter Asian Games, it takes about two hours from Seoul to Pyeongchang by car.[47]
^Bureau of railroad operation, MOLIT."서울~강릉 KTX 올해말 개통, 114분 소요" (Press release) (in Korean). Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, South Korea. Retrieved9 February 2018.
^Pyeongchang county Office."시외버스안내" [Intercity Bus Information] (in Korean). Retrieved9 February 2018.
^관동대학교영동문화연구소(평창군지편찬위원회),평창군지 상, Pyoengchang County, 2003, pp. 589–90.
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