Changnyeong County Explained

Changnyeong
Native Name Lang:ko
Settlement Type:County
Translit Lang1:Korean
Translit Lang1 Type1:Hangul
Translit Lang1 Info1:창녕군
Translit Lang1 Type2:Hanja
Translit Lang1 Info3:Changnyeong-gun
Translit Lang1 Info4:Ch'angnyeong-gun
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Yeongnam
Population Blank1 Title:Dialect
Population Blank1:Gyeongsang
Area Total Km2:533.09
Population As Of:2008
Population Households:27,007
Population Total:61752
Population Density Km2:140.1
Parts Type:Administrative divisions
Parts:2 Towns (읍 eup), 12 Townships (면 myeon)
Image Blank Emblem:Changnyeong logo.png
Blank Emblem Type:Emblem of Changnyeong

Changnyeong County (Changnyeong-gun 창녕군) is a county in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.

In the early Three Kingdoms period, Changnyeong was the seat of Bihwa Gaya, a member of the Gaya confederacy which was later conquered by Silla.

The Nakdong River flows through the county. The Upo wetland, an important ecological resource and tourist attraction, occupies a portion of the river basin.

The county government is located in Changnyeong Town (창녕읍), the largest town and center of the county.

Famous people from Changnyeong include North Korean actress Song Hye-rim and the former mayor of Seoul Park Won-soon.

Etymology

Changnyeong means "prosperous peace", from the Sino-Korean roots and .

History

Yeongsan territory (영산현) was established in 1631. In 1637, Changnyeong territory joined Yeongsan territory (창녕현·영산현). On May 24, 1895, the first day of fifth lunar month, Changnyeong and Yeongsan were incorporated under Daegu as separate counties (대구부 창녕군·영산군).[1] On August 4, 1896, Changnyeong and Yeongsan county were incorporated into South Gyeongsang province (경상남도 창녕군·영산군).[2] On April 1, 1914, Yeongsan County (영산군,) and Changnyeong county (창녕군) were merged into 15 townships (면) - Eubnae (읍내면), Goam (고암면), Seonsan (성산면), Daehap (대합면), Ibang (이방면), Yueo (유어면), Daeji (대지면), Changnak (창락면), Namgok (남곡면), Jangma (장마면), Bugok (부곡면), Yeongsan (영산면), Gilgok (길곡면), Docheon (도천면), Gyeseong (계성면).[3] In 1918, Eupnae (읍내면) was renamed as Changnyeong (창녕면). On April 1, 1936, Namgok (남곡면) was renamed as Namji (남지면).[4] On July 1, 1955, Changnak township (창락면) is merged with Changnyeong township (창녕면).[5] (14면). On January 1, 1960, Changnyeong township became Changnyeong town.[6] On January 1, 1963, Namji township became Namji town.[7] In 1971, The local town hall of Namji was established.

Administrative divisions

Changnyeong is made up of two towns (읍), 12 townships (면) 139 villages (리) over an area of 532.72 km2.[8] Of the 28,466 households and 61,789 people living in Changnyeong county in 2011 27.1% were living in Changnyeong town (창녕읍), 18.4% living in Namji town (남지읍).[9]

Eup·Myeon Korean HanjaHouseholdsPopulation Area
Changnyeong-eup창녕읍 6,923 16,723 61.42
Namji-eup 남지읍 5,052 11,34355.23
Goam-myeon 고암면 高岩面 1,116 2,001 44.48
Seongsan-myeon성산면 城山面 871 1,598 47.03
Daehab-myeon 대합면大合面 2,002 4,016 46.56
Ibang-myeon이방면梨房面 1,3752,794 46.60
Yueo-myeon 유어면遊漁面 1,029 1,980 33.29
Daeji-myeon 대지면大池面 1,129 2,450 17.87
Kyeseong-myeon 계성면桂城面 1,293 2,61827.86
Yeongsan-myeon영산면 靈山面 2,689 6,04729.36
Jangma-myeon장마면 丈麻面 1,010 1,92529.99
Docheon-myeon도천면 都泉面 1,357 2,84825.45
Kilgok-myeon길곡면吉谷面 738 1,48627.57
Bugok-myeon부곡면 1,882 3,96027.57

Tourism

Upo wetland in Changnyeong county is the largest wetlands in all of Korea. These wetlands are estimated to be created about 140 million years ago. It spreads out over Changnyeong county's Yueo, Ibang, Daehap, Daeji and other townships, covering over 2,310,000 m2, with a circumference area of 7.5 km. There are over 340 species of endangered plants such as the Euryale ferox, as well as 62 wild birds, and 28 fish located within the swamp.

Upo wetland was designated as a natural monument during the time of Japanese occupation in 1933. As soon as the Cultural Properties Protection Law was enacted on December 3, 1962, the wetland was designated as Cultural property 15 under the name of Changnyeong Swan habitat. However, on July 19, 1973, it was found that migratory bird numbers had decreased and therefore its status as a natural monument was cancelled. After another evaluation done on January 13, 2001, in order to determine the geographical scenic value of the biology living there, it was determined that the wetlands be considered natural preserve area number 524.[11]

In 1973 a hot spring resort was developed in Keomun village in the Bugok township (부곡면 거문리). In that year, after the natural hot springs was discovered under scenic Deokam Mountain (덕암산). The 48 geothermal wells that were discovered produce over 3,000 tons of water a day. In 1977년 Bugok was designated as a national tourist attraction with high quality hotels, recreational facilities, parks and forestation. One of the most famous hotel and spa is Bugok Hawaii, a resort style facility with a water and amusement park as well as a large hotel.

Educational Institutions

High Schools (고등학교)

Middle Schools (중학교)

Twin towns – sister cities

Changnyeong is twinned with:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. [:s:고종실록 32년 5월#음력 5월 26일|칙령 제98호 地方制度改正件]
  2. 칙령 제36호 地方制度官制改正件 (1896년 8월 4일)
  3. 조선총독부령 제111호 (1913년 12월 29일)
  4. 도령 제2호 (1936년 3월 3일)
  5. 법률 제360호 지방자치단체의폐치분합및구역변경에관한법률 (1955년 6월 29일)
  6. 법률 제538호 읍설치에관한법률 (1960년 1월 1일)
  7. 법률 제1177호 읍설치에관한법률 (1962년 11월 21일)
  8. http://www.cng.go.kr/statistics/index.asp 2009
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923205024/http://www.cng.go.kr/program/publicboard/lstBoardDoc.asp?cidx=1035 Changnyeong population
  10. http://myfriday.joins.com/myfriday/article/m_article_view.asp?aid=254027&servcode=3010202 (경남) 혼자서 조용히 사색하며 쉴 수 있는 곳은? 《Friday》(2006.11.27.)
  11. News: 창녕 우포늪 천연기념물 재지정. 연합신문. 김태식. January 13, 2011. January 23, 2011.
  12. http://moamt.co.kr/xe/100406 Hwawang Mountain