Gaeun
Encyclopedia
Gaeun is an eup
in Mungyeong
, Gyeongsangbuk-do
, South Korea
. It was formerly a center of coal-mining, but the last mines closed in the 1990s. The dominant local industries are now tourism and agriculture. There are also several operating kiln
s.
Gaeun occupies an area of 152.4 km2, of which more than 80% is vacant land, largely rugged hill country. These hills are home to a variety of wild animals including deer and wild boars.
The population numbers 5,594, of which about 60% are involved in farming. Since it gained eup status in 1973, Gaeun has lost three quarters of its population. Much of this is due to the loss of the mining industry.
The Gaeun Line railroad formerly connected the town with the Mungyeong Line, providing passenger and freight connections to the nationwide rail grid by way of Jeomchon
. The line is now abandoned. City buses connect Gaeun to the nearby towns of Mungyeong-eup
, Jeomchon
, and Hamchang. In addition, there are limited bus connections to Seoul
.
Local attractions include the Gaeun Coal Museum, a monument to uibyeong general Yi Gang-nyeon, and the putative birthplace of the Hubaekje
king Gyeon Hwon
. Anglers also visit the area in order to fish the Yeong River
, which flows through the town on its way to the Jinnam Bridge area and the Nakdong River
beyond.
Administrative divisions of South Korea
||South Korea is divided into 8 provinces , 1 special autonomous province , 6 metropolitan cities , and 1 special city...
in Mungyeong
Mungyeong
Mungyeong is a city in Gyeongsangbuk Province, South Korea. The local government, economy, and transportation networks are all centered in Jeomchon, the principal town. Mungyeong has a lengthy history, and is known today for its various historic and scenic tourist attractions...
, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Gyeongsangbuk-do
Gyeongsangbuk-do or shortly Gyeongbuk is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea.The Gyeongsangbuk-do Office is...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. It was formerly a center of coal-mining, but the last mines closed in the 1990s. The dominant local industries are now tourism and agriculture. There are also several operating kiln
Kiln
A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, or oven, in which a controlled temperature regime is produced. Uses include the hardening, burning or drying of materials...
s.
Gaeun occupies an area of 152.4 km2, of which more than 80% is vacant land, largely rugged hill country. These hills are home to a variety of wild animals including deer and wild boars.
The population numbers 5,594, of which about 60% are involved in farming. Since it gained eup status in 1973, Gaeun has lost three quarters of its population. Much of this is due to the loss of the mining industry.
The Gaeun Line railroad formerly connected the town with the Mungyeong Line, providing passenger and freight connections to the nationwide rail grid by way of Jeomchon
Jeomchon
Jeomchon is the urbanized center of Mungyeong city, in Gyeongsangbuk-do province, South Korea. The name literally means "mountain-pass village", and may refer to the low hills that run along the edge of town. It has a population of about 45,000 , on an area of roughly 45 km²...
. The line is now abandoned. City buses connect Gaeun to the nearby towns of Mungyeong-eup
Mungyeong-eup
Mungyeong-eup; ; is an eup in Mungyeong city in Gyeongsangbuk-do. It was formerly the seat of government of Mungyeong County, until its merger with Jeomchon in 1995 to form Mungyeong city. The eup contains the provincial park of Mungyeong Saejae. It also takes in a strip of the southern reaches...
, Jeomchon
Jeomchon
Jeomchon is the urbanized center of Mungyeong city, in Gyeongsangbuk-do province, South Korea. The name literally means "mountain-pass village", and may refer to the low hills that run along the edge of town. It has a population of about 45,000 , on an area of roughly 45 km²...
, and Hamchang. In addition, there are limited bus connections to Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
.
Local attractions include the Gaeun Coal Museum, a monument to uibyeong general Yi Gang-nyeon, and the putative birthplace of the Hubaekje
Hubaekje
Hubaekje, or Later Baekje, was one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea, along with Hugoguryeo and Silla. It was officially founded by the disaffected Silla general Gyeon Hwon in 900, and fell to Wanggeon's Goryeo army in 936. Its capital was at Jeonju, in present-day North Jeolla province...
king Gyeon Hwon
Gyeon Hwon
Gyeon Hwon was the king and founder of Hubaekje, one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea. Some records render his name as "Jin Hwon" . He was also the progenitor of the Hwanggan Gyeon clan...
. Anglers also visit the area in order to fish the Yeong River
Yeong River
The Yeong River is a river in Mungyeong City, North Gyeongsang province, South Korea. It flows into the Nakdong River, which in turn flows into the Sea of Japan . The river rises from Hwabuk-myeon in Sangju, and drains most of western Mungyeong and parts of northern Sangju. From tip to tail, it...
, which flows through the town on its way to the Jinnam Bridge area and the Nakdong River
Nakdong River
The Nakdong River is the longest river in South Korea, and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Busan.-Geography:...
beyond.
See also
- Geography of South KoreaGeography of South KoreaSouth Korea is located in East Asia, on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula jutting out from the far east of the Asian land mass. The only country with a land border to South Korea is North Korea, lying to the north with of border running along the DMZ. South Korea is mostly surrounded by...
- Subdivisions of South Korea
- List of Korea-related topics