Kwannam Explained

Kwannam
Native Name:관남關南
Settlement Type:Region of North Korea
Etymology:"South of the Ridge"
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:
(claimed)
Subdivision Type1:Divisions
Subdivision Name1:1 do, 4 kun, 2 si
Subdivision Type2:Dialects
Subdivision Name2:Hamgyŏng, Kangwŏn (문화어)
Hangul:관남지방
Hanja:關南地方
Rr:Gwannam-Jibang
Mr:Kwannam-Chibang

Kwannam, or Gwannam, is a subregion of Kwanbuk, a region of Korea, in the northeast of the peninsula. Kwannam traditionally encompasses South Hamgyŏng Province and Wŏnsan and Munch'ŏn Cities and Ch'ŏnnae, Pŏptong, Kosan, and Anbyŏn Counties of Kangwŏn Province in North Korea.

Etymology

The region occupies most of South Hamgyong Province, so is often referred to as Hamnam (함남) as an abbreviation for the region's primary province. The name Kwannam, however, means "south of the ridge", in reference to the Mach'ŏnryŏng ridge, a part of the greater Hamgyong Mountains, that runs through South Hamgyong.