Gumi is the second largest city in Gyeongsangbuk-do,South Korea. It is in the mid central part ofGyeongsangbuk-do. TheNakdong River runs through the city. Gumi is well known for its National Industrial Complex which was built in the 1970s. Manufacturing is the major industry of Gumi now, butagriculture was the main one before the complex was built.
Gumi is famous becauseGeumo Mountain (Geumo San) is there. Geumo San, designated as aprovincialpark in 1970, is 976 meters abovesea level. It attracts manytourists because of its beautiful scenery; such as oddly formed rocks and strangely shaped stones,forests, andvalleys. The mountain is best known for itsunique shape. Seeing the mountain from a distance, it resembles theprofile of agiant lying on the ground. It has become one of the favorite sites among photographers because it looks most spectacular atsunset. There are a variety of post cards with pictures of its side face of a giant.
Park Chung-hee is one of the formerpresidents of South Korea and he was born in Gumi in 1917. Gumi became prosperous during his presidential term. The Gyeongbu Expressway and Gyeongbu Line railway, which are the principal traffic routes of the country, were built to pass through the city. The routes could have been connected directly fromDaejeon toDaegu. The rapideconomic growth of Gumi resulted from the president’s care for his hometown.