| Pyeongchang | |
| Native Name Lang: | ko |
| Settlement Type: | County |
| Translit Lang1: | Korean |
| Image Blank Emblem: | Pyeongchang.svg |
| Blank Emblem Type: | Emblem of Pyeongchang |
| Etymology: | Korean: 平 "peaceful" or "flatland", Korean: 昌 "prosperity" or "flourishing" |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Korea |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Gangwon-do |
| Parts Type: | Administrative divisions |
| Parts: | 1 eup, 7 myeon |
| Area Total Km2: | 1463.65 |
| Population Total: | 43666 |
| Population As Of: | 2013 |
| Population Density Km2: | 30 |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Dialect |
| Timezone: | UTC+9 |
| Population Blank1: | Gangwon |
| Translit Lang1 Type1: | Hangul |
| Translit Lang1 Type2: | Hanja |
| Translit Lang1 Info2: | Korean: {{linktext|平昌|郡 |
| Translit Lang1 Info3: | Pyeongchang-gun |
| Translit Lang1 Info4: | P'yŏngch'ang-gun[1] |
Pyeongchang ([2] pronounced as /ko/; in full, Pyeongchang-gun pronounced as /ko/) is a county in the province of Gangwon-do, South Korea, located in the Taebaek Mountains region. It is home to several Buddhist temples, including Woljeongsa. It is about 180abbr=onNaNabbr=on east southeast of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and connected by expressways and high-speed passenger railways. Pyeongchang's slogan, "Happy 700 Pyeongchang", is taken from its average elevation of approximately .
Pyeongchang hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics and the 2018 Winter Paralympics.[3] It was officially rebranded as "PyeongChang" (with a capital 'C') for the purposes of the 2018 Games, in order to avoid confusion with Pyongyang in North Korea.[4] [5]
Pyeongchang region was ruled by the Goguryeo Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period, and it was called Uk-o-hyeon (욱오현).[6] After the Silla dynasty conquered the Goguryeo Dynasty and Baekje Dynasty, it was renamed Baek-o-hyeon (백오현).[7]
After the Goryeo Dynasty was established, it renamed Pyeongchang-hyeon. Then, it was under control of Wonju.[8] When a 10-provincial system was enforced, the north of Pyeongchang region was involved in Sakbang-do, and the south of the region was involved in Jungwon-do. When a new administrative system was carried out by King Hyeonjong, the east of the region was involved in Dong-gyeo, and the rest of it was included in Yanggwang-do. An administrator for the region was sent from the central government, and it became independent of Wonju in 1299.[9]
When the Joseon Dynasty was founded in 1392, the region was promoted from a hyeon to a county (gun).[10] After the territory was divided into 8 Provinces under the reign of King Taejong, it was involved in Gangwon-do.[11] After the territory was divided into 23 districts in 1895 with the 8-provincial system abolished, it was included in Chugju-bu. When a 13-provincial system was enacted in 1896, it was involved in Gangwon-do.[12]
The altitude of Pyeongchang is wide-ranging, with 84% of its territory comprising mountains with average elevations of 750m (2,460feet).[13]
Its best-known place, the township of Daegwallyeong-myeon, averages between 700and above sea level, with some areas over 1000abbr=onNaNabbr=on high.[14]
Under the Köppen climate classification, Pyeongchang County experiences a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dwa) and a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dwb).[15] Pyeongchang's winters are long and very snowy, while summers are relatively short.[16]
Average temperature of Pyeongchang from 2001 to 2010 was 7.0 °C, and it was lower than Gangwon's 8.9 °C. Annual precipitation of the region from 2001 to 2010 was 1,555.0 mm, and it was more than Gangwon's 1,491.5 mm.[17]
The warmest months of the year are July and August, with January and February being the coldest.
thumb|Woljeongsa Nine Story Stone Pagoda
In Pyeongchang, 16 heritage sites were registered by the South Korean government, and 45 Heritages were registered by the Gangwon Provincial Office.
The count of cultural heritage designations is as follows.
See main article: Sangwonsa. Sangwonsa is a temple on Odaesan Mountain that was originally established as Jinyeowon in 705. Although the Joseon Dynasty's policy was the prohibition of Buddhism, it constantly donated to rebuild the temple. In 1401, King Taejong donated to the construction of Sajaam Hermitage. In 1465, King Sejo and administrators donated to rebuild the temple.[18] Sejo's son, King Yejong designated it as a memorial for his father. During the Third Battle of Seoul, the United Nations Command ordered that the temple be burned, but a Buddhist monk prevented it. Instead, the Command agreed to burn only the doors of the temple.[19]
Sangwonsa has the following cultural heritage sites:
See main article: Woljeongsa. Woljeongsa is a temple on Odaesan Mountain established by Jajang the monk in 643. After it was established, it was consistently rebuilt. During the Third Battle of Seoul, 10 buildings were totally destroyed by fire. Tanheo the monk restored Jeokgwangjeon, one of the burnt buildings, in 1964, and Manhwa the monk gradually reconstructed other buildings.[20]
Woljeongsa has the following cultural heritage sites:
The Pyeongchang Odaesan Historic Archive (Historic Site No. 34) was one of five archival locations in the latter part of the Joseon Dynasty for the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty and Sonwon-kyebo-kiryak.
Daegwallyeong Snow Festival began as "Daegwallyeong Winter Snow Festival" in 1992 by Daegwallyeong Ski Club. In 1993, the first festival was formally held. Events of the 1st festival were skiing competition for locals, games of making snowmen, snow sledge competition, and sledge competition. Some games were added to next festivals, such as traditional games and snow car raising.[21]
On 7–22 Feb 2018, 26th festival was held in hwenggye-ri, Daegwallyeong-myeon as a pre-event of the 2018 Winter Olympics. Events include an exhibition of snow figures, snow sledge competition, international naked marathon, traditional folk performances, and Hwangbyoungsan Mountain hunting game.[22]
Pyeongchang is the hometown of Lee Hyo-seok, a Korean novelist,[23] and this festival is held in Lee Hyo-seok Culture Village, where he grew up.[24]
The Lee Seung-bok Memorial Hall is located in Nodong-ri, Yongpyeong-myeon to memorialize Lee Seung-bok who was a South Korean boy murdered by North Korean commandos in 1968. It was established in 1982, with building a memorial statue for Lee. Lee's house was restored in 2000.[25]
Odaesan Mountain is the home of historical Buddhist temples including Sangwonsa and Woljeongsa.[26] It was designated as a national park in 1975. The highest peak, Birobong Peak is 1563m (5,128feet) high.[27]
Two major ski resorts in the county were the home of the 2018 Winter Olympics. Alpensia ski resort has six slopes for skiing and snowboarding, with runs up to 1400abbr=onNaNabbr=on long, for beginners and advanced skiers, and an area reserved for snowboarders. The resort is open year-round.[28] Alpensia hosted the majority of the Olympic snow events.[29]
Alpensia will be the focus of the 2018 Cultural Olympiad, with a new, purpose-built concert hall within the resort with an indoor water park.[30]
Samyang Ranch is the largest highlands farm in Asia, located in the hills of Daegwallyeong at 850 to 1,470 meters above sea level. It is operated as a petting zoo and features a pastoral landscape. The ranch is operated by the leading Korean food and dairy company Samyang food, the first company to introduce ramyeon instant noodles into a poverty-ridden South Korea in the 1960s.It is the filming location of the drama Autumn in My Heart and the movie Lover's Concerto.[31]
Pyeongchang hosted the 1999 Asian Winter Games and 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games. The 2018 Winter Olympics were also held in Pyeongchang, as well as the 2009 IBU Biathlon World Championships.
See main article: 1999 Asian Winter Games. The Asian Winter Games was held in 1999 in Gangwon Province including Pyeongchang. Originally, it hoped to host the 3rd Asian Winter Games, which North Korea gave up; however, Harbin was announced to host the 3rd Games. It was decided that Gangwon would host the 4th Asian Winter Games at the same time.[32]
In total, 799 athletes participated in the Games. Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, short track speed skating, and figure skating events were held in Pyeongchang.[33]
See main article: 2018 Winter Olympics.
On 6 July 2011, Pyeongchang was announced as the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics and the 2018 Winter Paralympics. The other candidates were Annecy, France and Munich, Germany. It is the third Winter Games in Asia after the 1972 games in Sapporo, Japan and the 1998 games in Nagano, Japan. It also is the first Asian locality to host the Winter Games outside Japan. Pyeongchang won their 2018 bid after two previous failed attempts for the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, to which it lost to Vancouver, Canada, and Sochi, Russia, respectively.[34]
For the 2018 Olympics, Pyeongchang was marketed with the CamelCase spelling of "PyeongChang", so the global audience would not confuse it with Pyongyang, the capital of neighboring North Korea.[35] The two main facilities created for the 2018 Winter Olympics were the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza (where the opening / closing ceremonies and victory ceremonies were held) and the Gangneung Olympic Park (where the men's and women's short track, speed skating, figure skating, ice hockey, curling events were held).[36] The 2018 Winter Paralympics was held in the same venues starting 9 March 2018.[37]
In preparation for the 2018 Olympics, the region built facilities including hotels and a world-class ski resort, named Alpensia.
The region also ran the "2018 Dream Program", a program initially created in relation to the 2010 bid. The 2018 Dream Program was the fifth iteration of this sports and cultural program, involving 124 participants from 31 countries, who were invited because they live where there is no snowfall and have no opportunity to participate in winter sports.[38]
See main article: 2024 Winter Youth Olympics.
Gangwon Province, which includes Pyeongchang, was chosen as the host for the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics. Outdoor venues in Pyeongchang used in the 2018 Winter Olympics will be reused for these games.
Pyeongchang County is traversed from west to east by the Gyeonggang Line and Yeongdong Expressway. The railway and expressway both originate in the Seoul metropolitan region.
See main article: Pyeongchang station and Jinbu station.
A new KTX line, named the Gyeonggang Line, was built between Wonju and Gangneung via Pyeongchang for the 2018 Winter Olympics, connecting Pyeongchang to Seoul with a journey time of less than 80 minutes. The new line, which was officially opened on 22 August 2017, provides a main-line high-speed rail service that passes through Pyeongchang from west to east, with KTX trains calling at Pyeongchang station and Jinbu station (for the Olympic Stadium).[39] KTX trains to Jinbu station were increased for the duration of the 2018 Olympics.[40]
See main article: Yeongdong Expressway. Yeongdong Expressway passes through Pyeongchang from west to east. After the expressway was expanded in 1999 for the Winter Asian Games, it takes about two hours from Seoul to Pyeongchang by car.[42]
The district includes one town (eup), Pyeongchang-eup (평창읍; 平昌邑) and seven townships (myeon):
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