Anjwa-myeon explained

Anjwa-myeon
Native Name:
Korean: 安佐面
Type:Township
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2: Shinan County
Population:3,071
Population As Of:March 2022
Area Land Km2:59.97
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:Korea Standard Time
Utc Offset:+9
Pushpin Map:South Korea
Coordinates:34.7307°N 126.1316°W

Anjwa-myeon (is a myeon located in Shinan County, South Jeolla, South Korea. It has an area of 59.97 km2 and its population in March 2022 was 3,071.[1] The myeon is composed of 63 islands, 10 inhabited and 53 uninhabited. Its largest island is Anjwa Island (which comprises the majority of its land area. This island is also the largest island of Shinan County. Its northern coast is connected by a bridge to neighboring Palgeum-myeon, while to west of the island lies Bigeum-myeon. To the southwest of the myeon lies Haui-myeon, whilst Jangsan-myeon lies to its southeast.

History

Anjwa Island itself was reclaimed from mudflats in 1917. Before then, it consisted of two islands, Anchang Island to the west and Gijwa Island to the east. The modern name of the island is formed as a portmanteau of these two names.

Administrative history

Geography

The three highest points of the myeon and of Anjwa Island are marked by Bongsan at a height of 182m in the northwest of the island, and Daesan at 151m and Hudongsan also at 151m, in the southeast.[2]

The geology of the islands is principally that of acidic igneous rock. However, due to the sedimentation caused by coastal currents as well as governmental land reclamation projects, along the eastern coast of Anjwa Island a plain has formed. The native tree flora include a species of evergreen oak, camellia, evergreen spindle, and red machilus.

Administrative subdivisions

Anjwa-myeong has 25 ri.[3]

Name of RiKorean Name of Korean: Hanja Name Village names
(Administrative ri)
Notes
Geumsan-ri Korean: 금산리 Korean: 琴山里 금산 (Geumsan) On Anjwa Island
Tandong-ri Korean: 탄동리 Korean: 炭洞里 탄동 (Tandong) On Anjwa Island
Sandu-ri Korean: 산두리 Korean: 山斗里 산두 (Sandu) On Anjwa Island
Bokho-ri Korean: 복호리 Korean: 伏虎里 복호 (Bokho) On Anjwa Island
Dae-ri Korean: 대리 Korean: 大里 대리 (Daeri) On Anjwa Island
Jara-ri Korean: 자라리 Korean: 者羅里 자라1, 자라2 (Jara-1, Jara-2) Comprises Jara Island, Jeungsan Island (Korean: 증산도) and Hyu'am Island (Korean: 휴암도), as well as some smaller islands
Jonpo-ri Korean: 존포리 Korean: 存浦里 존포 (Jonpo) Comprises Banggu Island (Korean: 방구도) and part of Anjwa Island
Hyangmok-ri Korean: 향목리 Korean: 香木里향목 (Hyangmok) On Anjwa Island
Yeoheul-ri Korean: 여흘리 Korean: 如屹里 여흘 (Yeoheul) On Anjwa Island
Namgang-ri Korean: 남강리 Korean: 南江里 남강 (Namgang) On Anjwa Island
Daecheok-ri Korean: 대척리 Korean: 大尺里대척 (Daecheok) On Anjwa Island
Changma-ri Korean: 창마리 Korean: 唱馬里 창마 (Changma) On Anjwa Island
Sogok-ri Korean: 소곡리 Korean: 所谷里 소곡, 두리 (Sogok, Duri) On Anjwa Island
Bakji-ri Korean: 박지리 Korean: 朴只里 박지 (Bakji) Comprises Bakji Island, one of the Purple Islands
Banwol-ri Korean: 반월리 Korean: 半月里반월 (Banwol) Comprises Banwol Island, one of the Purple Islands
Gudae-ri Korean: 구대리 Korean: 舊垈里 구대, 우목 (Gudae, Umok) On Anjwa Island
Mamyeong-ri Korean: 마명리 Korean: 馬鳴里마명 (Mamyeong) On Anjwa Island
Sinchon-ri Korean: 신촌리 Korean: 新川里신촌 (Sinchon) On Anjwa Island
Dae-u-ri Korean: 대우리 Korean: 大芋里 대우 (Dae'u) On Anjwa Island
Bangwol-ri Korean: 방월리 Korean: 方月里 방월, 전진 (Bang'wol, Jeonjin) On Anjwa Island. Site of the Stone Tombs, a set of dolmens.
Naeho-ri Korean: 내호리 Korean: 內湖里 내호 (Naeho) On Anjwa Island
Han'un-ri Korean: 한운리 Korean: 閑雲里 한운, 사치 (Han'un, Sachi) Comprises the Upper and Lower Sachi Islands (Korean: 사치도) and part of Anjwa Island
Siseo-ri Korean: 시서리 Korean: 枾西里 시서, 오동 (Siseo, Odong) On Anjwa Island
Eupdong-ri Korean: 읍동리Korean: 邑洞里 읍동, 와우 (Eupdong, Wau) On Anjwa Island; location of the Administrative Welfare Center
Majin-ri Korean: 마진리 Korean: 馬津里마진 (Majin) On Anjwa Island

Economy

Land use is composed of 10.12km2 of rice paddies, 11.61km2 of agricultural fields, and 16.37km2 of forest. Major agricultural products include rice, barley, beans, sweet potatoes, tobacco, and onions; additionally, jujubes are abundant as forest products. Anchovies, cutlassfish, octopus (including nakji and larger species), and croaker are caught in the coastal waters. Production of oysters, gim seaweed, miyeok seaweed and salt are all active industries; local specialties include garlic, gim seaweed, rice and gamtae (also known as paddle weed).

Transportation

Regular passenger ferries link Anjwa-myeon to Mokpo on the mainland of South Korea, as well as between the islands that make up the myeon. There are also road bridges that connect Anjwa Island to other myeon, with Local Route 805 being the principal trunk road leading out from National Route 2. This local route currently finishes on Jara Island (Korean: 자라도), one of the southernmost parts of the myeon. However, the more touristy smaller islands of the myeon are only connected to Anjwa Island by footbridge.[4]

Education

Anjwa Island has one middle school, located in Changma-ri. The myeon has several elementary schools.

Purple Islands

Anjwa-myeon also includes Banwol Island and Bakji Island (also known as Parkji Island,), which have been given the name the Purple Isles[5] or the Purple Islands. Each of these islands forms a ri in its own right within Anjwa-myeon.

Banwol Island historically depended on fishing and agriculture, with both deep-sea fishing and marsh fishing being practiced.[6] The traditional cultivation of kohlrabi as well as the abundance of native bellflowers inspired a purple-themed rebrand for the region in 2015, with 400 buildings in the region painting their roofs purple, as well as telephone boxes.[7] The planting of 21,500 m2 of lavender fields,[7] as well as fields of Aster daisies, lily magnolia, lilac, hollyhock and purpletop vervain have contributed to the aesthetic and environmental appeal of the region throughout the seasons.[8] Since the initial revitalization efforts in 2018, more than 490,000 visitors had come to the island as of 2021.[7] Because of the close association of the color purple with the fandom of South Korean boy band BTS, photo zones dedicated to the group and a sculpture of the catchphrase 'I purple you' are found on the island.[9]

Banwol Island is connected to Bakji Island and thence to Anjwa Island by a large two-section wooden pedestrian bridge called the "Purple Bridge" due to its color.[10] This has also been referred to as Cheonsa Bridge or Angel Bridge (Korean: 천사의 다리,,), not be confused with a suspension road bridge of much greater dimensions, also located in Shinan County. The bridge was first built to honor the wishes of Kim Mae-geum, a resident of Bakji Island, "to walk on two feet onto the mainland".[11]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 주민등록 인구통계 행정안전부 . jumin.mois.go.kr . 2 January 2024.
  2. Web site: 안좌도(安佐島) . . 2 January 2024 . ko.
  3. Web site: 마을 현향. ko. www.shinan.go.kr.
  4. Web site: The Purple Islands in South Korea . Hallyuism . 2 January 2024 . 19 June 2023.
  5. Web site: Sinan County to Create ‘Purple Isles’ . Be Korea-savvy . 29 March 2021.
  6. Web site: Martín . Ana . Purple Island . Best Tourism Villages . 2 January 2024 . 2 December 2021.
  7. News: Marcus . Lilit . Kwon . Jake . South Korea's all-purple Banwol Island is a photographer's dream . 17 October 2021 . CNN . 7 February 2021 . en.
  8. News: Jung-youn . Lee . Shinan islands enjoy purple patch . 2 January 2024 . . 24 November 2022 . en.
  9. Web site: The Planet Compass. The Mystical Purple Island . Medium . 2 January 2024 . Medium_2022 . en . 23 May 2022.
  10. Web site: You Need To See This Insta-Worthy Purple Island In South Korea. 2021-02-09. Travel Guides For Muslim Travellers Have Halal, Will Travel. en-US.
  11. Web site: Park . Woo-Ryang . Harmony in Nature: Shinan-gun's Sustainable Journey Towards the SDGs (2016-2021) . Shinan-gun Government . 2 January 2024 . en . PDF . 14 May 2023.