Gijang County

Gijang
기장군
County
Korean transcription(s)
  Hanja
  Revised Romanization Gijang-gun
  McCune-Reischauer Kijang kun

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

Logo
Country South Korea
Region Yeongnam
Provincial level Busan
Administrative divisions 2 eup, 3 myeon
Area
  Total 217.9 km2 (84.1 sq mi)
Population (2013 Dec 31)
  Total 146,260
  Density 670/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
  Dialect Gyeongsang
Website www.gijang.go.kr

Gijang County is a gun, or county, located between Haeundae-gu and Ulsan in northern Busan, South Korea.

History

Gijang first appears under its current name in the annals of the year 757, during the Unified Silla period. At that time it was made the hyeon of Gijang, part of Dongnae-gun. The Samguk Sagi records that it was known as Gaphwayanggok (甲火良谷) previously.

Historical landmarks in the county include the Buddhist temple of Jangansa, said to have been first built by Wonhyo in the 7th century.

Geography and demographics

Gijang is the most rural of Busan's districts, and consists mostly of vacant and agricultural land. Approximately 156.7 of its 217.9 square kilometers are empty and forested, mostly hilly land. The county's population has risen steadily since 1990, when it stood at 56,847. There is a fishing village set along the coastline.

Economy

Due to its location along the coast of the East Sea of Korea, Gijang is known as a center for the production of various kinds of seafood. These include anchovies and brown seaweed (miyeok).

Dragon metalwork at Jangangsa temple
Gijang fishing village

Education

Gijang is also the current residence of the new Busan International Foreign School, which the Ministry of Education recently spent 46.9 Billion won.

Tourism

Other points of interest in the Gijang area include Toam Pottery Park and Ilgwang Beach, as well as the cliffside Haedong Yonggungsa temple. The fishing village is popular for its fresh seafood and sashimi.

Administrative divisions

Administrative divisions

Gijang is divided into five parts:

References

See also

External links

Coordinates: 35°15′00″N 129°13′18″E / 35.25000°N 129.22167°E / 35.25000; 129.22167

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, February 19, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.