Hadong County
Hadong County
하동군 | |
---|---|
Korean transcription(s) | |
• Hangul | 하동군 |
• Hanja | 河東郡 |
• Revised Romanization | Hadong-gun |
• McCune-Reischauer | Hadong-kun |
![]() Location in South Korea | |
Country | ![]() |
Region | Yeongnam |
Administrative divisions | 1 eup, 12 myeon |
Area | |
• Total | 675.53 km2 (260.82 sq mi) |
Population (September 2024[1]) | |
• Total | 40,909 |
• Density | 85.9/km2 (222/sq mi) |
• Dialect | Gyeongsang |
Website | https://www.hadong.go.kr |
Hadong County (Korean: 하동군; RR: Hadong-gun) is a county in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is located on the far-west side of the province, bordering South Jeolla Province. The county office is located at Hadeong-eup.
History
[edit]Hadong was originally called Dasachon (다사촌; 大沙县, "county of much sand") when it was a part of the Jin state. It later became part of Nangnoguk (낙노국; 樂奴國), one of the Byeonhan confederacy's twelve statelets. According to the History of the Three Kingdoms, the region was called Handasa-gun (한다사군) before changing into Hadong-gun in 757 CE during the reign of King Gyeongdeok of Silla. During the Goryeo dynasty, the area was known as Hadong-hyeon (하동현). Amid the reign of the Joseon-era King Taejong in 1414, it became known as Hanamhyeon (하남현) with Namhaehyeon (남해현). In 1702, Agyang-myeon was added to Hadong-gun. Hadong was raised to the status of Hadongdohobu (하동도호부) in 1740, the thirtieth year of King Sukjong's reign.[2]
On April 1, 1914, Seo-myeon (서면) and Geumyang-myeon (금양면) were added to Hadong. Part of Seomjin-ri (섬진리), Daap-myeon (다압면), and Gwangyang-gun of South Jeolla Province were added to Hadong on January 1, 1915. In 1917, Naehoengbo-myeon (내횡보면) was renamed to Hoengcheon-myeon (횡천면) while Deokyang-myeon (덕양면) was renamed to Jingyo-myeon (진교면). Geumyang-myeon (금양면) was abolished and incorporated into Jingyo-myeon (진교면) and Geumnam-myeon (금남면), formerly Nam-myeon (남면), on January 1, 1933. On October 1, 1938, Hadong-myeon (하동면) was elevated to Hadong-eup (하동읍).
During the Korean War, the region was the site of the Hadong Ambush, a North Korean attack on US Army forces.
Local sights and attractions
[edit]Nestled between the Seomjin River and Mount Jiri, the county is a popular destination for both domestic and foreign tourists who enjoy nature.[3] Portions of the Jirisan National Park lie within the county, forming the county's hilly, mountainous landscape.[4]
The Ssanggyesa is a historic Korean Buddhist temple of the Jogye Order that has been designated a National Treasure.
Pak Gyeongni's 16-volume novel Land is partially set in the village of Pyeongsa-ri (평사리) in Agyang-myeon, Hadong County. A replica of the fictional Choi family's home was built there to commemorate the author's legacy.[3][5]
Green tea
[edit]Hadong has been famous for its green tea since the Silla era when an envoy brought green tea seeds from the Tang Empire to be planted locally.[3] The local government has long promoted this as a major local attraction, including sponsoring a tourism advertisement that aired on CNN in 2007.[6] The annual "wild tea" festival, lasting 25 days, takes place during May and June.[3][4]
Development
[edit]While much of South Korea has experienced rapid industrial development, Hadong remains a destination for those wishing to escape the bustle of city living.[original research?] However, a lack of industrial sector activity has left the government with little incentive to expand the sometimes inadequate existing road infrastructure.[original research?] A petition for the allocation of funds for new road construction was signed by a number of Hadong residents.[7]
Former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak has recently[when?] announced plans for the construction of a Gyeongsangnam-do leisure resort palace in Hadong.[8]
Notable people
[edit]- Jeong Gi-ryong
- Yi Byeong-ju, a novelist, journalist, and reporter
- Jeong Ho-seung
- Kang Man-soo
- Jeong Gongchae, a poet who won the 1960 Contemporary Literature (Hyundae Munhak) Award[9]
Schools
[edit]Twin towns – sister cities
[edit]Hadong is twinned with:
Anyang, South Korea
Gwangyang, South Korea
Geoje, South Korea
Seongdong-gu, South Korea
Haeundae-gu, South Korea
Zhangqiu, China
Ya'an, China
Zhangjiajie, China
References
[edit]- ^ "Population statistics". Korea Ministry of the Interior and Safety. 2024.
- ^ Official website http://www.hadong.go.kr/e/main/frame.asp?test=/e/01/01_02.asp?m=m1 Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d "Green Tea, Nature and Market at Hadong". The Korea Times. 2008-03-13.
- ^ a b "Asia Society Korea Travel Series 4 – Hadong County". Asia Society. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
- ^ "A statue of Pak Kyong-ni to be set up at Toji Foundation". The Dong-a Ilbo. 2018-05-03.
- ^ http://www.hadong.go.kr/e/main/frame.asp?test=/e/01/01_02.asp?m=m1[permanent dead link ]
- ^ 하동군 국도 19호선 4차선 확.포장 시급 Newsis 2008-01-22
- ^ [이명박 정부 개발 핫 이슈] "동아시아 7대 경제권 도약 꿈꾼다" 2008-01-22 Retrieved 2008-01-26
- ^ "Prix littéraires 1960". frwiki.net.
External links
[edit]- County government website Archived 2017-03-12 at the Wayback Machine