| Hadong | |
| Native Name: | Korean: 하동군 |
| Native Name Lang: | ko |
| Settlement Type: | County |
| Translit Lang1: | Korean |
| Translit Lang1 Type1: | Hangul |
| Translit Lang1 Info1: | 하동군 |
| Translit Lang1 Type2: | Hanja |
| Translit Lang1 Info3: | Hadong-gun |
| Translit Lang1 Info4: | Hadong-kun |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Yeongnam |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Dialect |
| Population Blank1: | Gyeongsang |
| Area Total Km2: | 675.53 |
| Population As Of: | 2003 |
| Population Total: | 58010 |
| Population Density Km2: | 85.9 |
| Parts Type: | Administrative divisions |
| Parts: | 1 eup, 12 myeon |
| Image Blank Emblem: | Hadong logo.png |
| Blank Emblem Type: | Emblem of Hadong |
| Website: | https://www.hadong.go.kr |
Hadong County (Hadong-gun) is a county in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is on the far-west side of the province, bordering South Jeolla Province. The county office is located at Hadeong-eup.
The county of Hadong was called Dasachon ("county of much sand") when it was a part of the Jin state, later becoming a part of Nangnoguk, one of twelve statelets of the Byeonhan confederacy. According to the History of the Three Kingdoms, the region was called Handasa-gun, then changed 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 . In 1414, during the reign of the Joseon-era King Taejong, it became known as Hanamhyeon with Namhaehyeon . It was raised to the status of Hadongdohobu in 1740, in the thirtieth year of King Sukjong's reign.[1] During the Korean War the region was the site of a North Korean attack on US Army forces, the Hadong Ambush.
Nestled between the Seomjin River and Mount Jiri, the county is a popular destination for both domestic and foreign tourists who enjoy nature.[2] Parts of the Jirisan National Park lie within the county and form the county's notable hilly, mountainous landscape.[3]
The Ssanggyesa (Ssangye Temple) is a notable historic temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and is a designated National Treasure.
Pak Gyeongni's 16-volume novel Land is partly set in the village of Pyeongsa-ri in Agyang-myeon, Hadong County. A replica of the fictional Choi family's home was built there to commemorate the author's legacy.[2] [4]
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.[2] The local government has historically promoted this as a major local attraction, including sponsoring a tourism advertisement that aired on CNN in 2007.[5] The annual "wild tea" festival, lasting 25 days, takes place during May and June.[2] [3]
While much of Korea has experienced an explosion of industrial development, Hadong remains a destination for those who wish to escape the bustle of city living. However, a lack of activity in the industrial sector has left the government with little incentive to expanding the sometimes inadequate existing road infrastructure. A petition for the allocation of funds for new road construction was signed by a number of Hadong residents.[6]
Former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak has recently announced plans for the construction of a Gyeongsangnam-do leisure resort palace in Hadong.[7]
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