Joam
Encyclopedia
Joam is a small town located in Gyeonggi-do
, South Korea
. The town is a part of the primarily rural and agricultural city of Hwaseong. Joam is also the urban center of Ujeong-eup, the population of which is approximately 18,000 and which encompasses both Joam and much of the surrounding countryside. Agriculture is the primary use of land in the environs of Joam, rice
being the main crop but with Chinese cabbage
, daikon
, chili pepper
s, other fruit and vegetables, and livestock being grown and raised. The area is also home to several industrial sites including a large Kia Motors
test facility.
Joam itself has many small businesses, restaurants and a traditional market with 752 stalls, which has operated since 1965.
and Seoul
's Sadang Station
. The buses depart frequently and operate seven days a week. Joam is also serviced by local buses and has a taxi depot.
Bank, a Samsung Electronics
store and two post offices
. Many other stores cater to Joam's farmers, selling agricultural equipment and seeds. Joam also hosts a small store that caters to South Asian and Russian migrant workers. This store, located across the street from New World Mart, stocks rare items such as Southeast Asian food, Indian spices, black tea
and international calling cards. Joam also hosts a traditional outdoor folk market three times a month. This market stocks fresh produce, baked and dried goods, seafood, plants, household items and clothing.
, O.B.
and Cass
. Other popular entertainment includes karaoke bars, several of which can be found on Joam's main street and in Joam Plaza.
Joam has many restaurants. These include several Korean diners that serve popular dishes such as dak galbi
, bibimbap
and kimbap. These dishes are commonly served with kimchi
and other banchan
(side dishes).
Joam is also home to a mountaintop park and exercise area. This park has an excellent view of the town, a picnic area, and exercise equipment. Ujeong-eup Town Hall provides an exercise facility and local library, and hosts local events. A small lake and fishing resort is also located just outside of town.
and Buddhist places of worship. Joam has several churches, both Protestant and Catholic, which can often be recognized by their lit steeples. There is also a Buddhist temple at the base of the hilltop park.
, the town is in a transitional area between the warmer and more humid south and the cooler continental north. Temperatures in winter are low along the coast since Joam is located in the lower plains close to the Yellow Sea
, where the water is shallow. Therefore, Joam's climate is classified as midwest coastal. Winters are generally dry, sunny and cold with temperatures in January averaging below freezing. Summer is hot and humid, and is the wettest season. Spring and fall are the mildest and most comfortable seasons and are also periods of flowering and agricultural activity. Because of Joam's abundant natural and agricultural scenery, spring and fall afford the best opportunities to appreciate the scenery around Joam.
and leafy trees, various flowers and birds, and edible plants that are collected by the local population. Many farms in the area are operated by small holders and families farming rice in fields and vegetables in greenhouse
s. In the late summer drying peppers are a common sight in front of many farmhouses. In the autumn, rice
is harvested in vast quantities, as is celebrated at the Chuseok
festival. In the winter, agricultural scraps are burned in the fields to restore nutrients and clear the way for spring planting. In the spring, the fields are flooded and planted with new rice seedlings which sprout first in greenhouses. The area is also home to many older traditional farmhouses that give it a unique historical flavor.
When walking the many paths and country roads around Joam many traditional burial mounds can be seen. These grass-covered tombs are the focus of traditional ceremonies at Chuseok and Korean New Year
.
and English.
Gyeonggi-do
Gyeonggi-do is the most populous province in South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Suwon. Seoul—South Korea's largest city and national capital—is located in the heart of the province, but has been separately administered as a provincial-level special city since 1946...
, 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...
. The town is a part of the primarily rural and agricultural city of Hwaseong. Joam is also the urban center of Ujeong-eup, the population of which is approximately 18,000 and which encompasses both Joam and much of the surrounding countryside. Agriculture is the primary use of land in the environs of Joam, rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
being the main crop but with Chinese cabbage
Chinese cabbage
Chinese cabbage can refer to two distinct varieties of Chinese leaf vegetables used often in Chinese cuisine. These vegetables are both related to the Western cabbage, and are of the same species as the common turnip...
, daikon
Daikon
Daikon , Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus, also called White Radish, Japanese radish, Oriental radish, Chinese radish, lo bok and Mooli , is a mild flavoured, very large, white East Asian radish...
, chili pepper
Chili pepper
Chili pepper is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The term in British English and in Australia, New Zealand, India, Malaysia and other Asian countries is just chilli without pepper.Chili peppers originated in the Americas...
s, other fruit and vegetables, and livestock being grown and raised. The area is also home to several industrial sites including a large Kia Motors
Kia Motors
Kia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
test facility.
Joam itself has many small businesses, restaurants and a traditional market with 752 stalls, which has operated since 1965.
Transportation
Joam Bus Terminal provides direct intercity services to SuwonSuwon
Suwon is the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. A major city of over a million inhabitants, Suwon lies approximately south of Seoul. It is traditionally known as "The City of Filial Piety"....
and 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...
's Sadang Station
Sadang Station
Sadang Station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 2 and Seoul Subway Line 4.Sadang Station has one island platform for Line 4 and one side platform for Line 2. The Line 2 platform of this station is the first in Korea to have platform screen doors installed, on October 21, 2005...
. The buses depart frequently and operate seven days a week. Joam is also serviced by local buses and has a taxi depot.
Shopping
Joam hosts many small businesses including traditional open air stalls and more modern stores. Major stores include New World Mart, a large grocery store with an upper level dedicated to household goods, several branches of NonghyupNonghyup
The National Agricultural Cooperative Federation is a federation of agricultural cooperatives in South Korea.It delivers supply, processing, marketing, and banking services through more than 4000 branches...
Bank, a Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics is a South Korean multinational electronics and information technology company headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul...
store and two post offices
Korea Post
Korea Post is the national postage service of South Korea, and a direct subauthority of Ministry of Knowledge and Economy. Korea Post is in charge of postal service, postal banking & insurance service...
. Many other stores cater to Joam's farmers, selling agricultural equipment and seeds. Joam also hosts a small store that caters to South Asian and Russian migrant workers. This store, located across the street from New World Mart, stocks rare items such as Southeast Asian food, Indian spices, black tea
Black tea
Black tea is a variety of tea that is more oxidized than the oolong, green, and white varieties.All four varieties are made from leaves of the shrub Camellia sinensis. Black tea is generally stronger in flavor and contains more caffeine than the less oxidized teas. Two principal varieties of the...
and international calling cards. Joam also hosts a traditional outdoor folk market three times a month. This market stocks fresh produce, baked and dried goods, seafood, plants, household items and clothing.
Entertainment
Joam has several bars and pubs that serve a variety of Korean draft beers such as HiteHite
Hite Brewery Company Limited is a South Korean brewery company headquartered in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Its main products are beer, rice wine, and mineral water. The company was established as Chosun Breweries in 1933...
, O.B.
Oriental Brewery
Oriental Brewery or OB is a South Korean brewery established by the Doosan Group in 1952. It was purchased by InBev in 1998. In 2009, it was sold by Anheuser-Busch InBev as the parent company sought to reduce its debt. It was sold to an affiliate of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co....
and Cass
Cass
-Surnames:* Brian Cass* David Cass , American economist* Elizabeth Cass* Frederick Cass* George Washington Cass* Godfrey Cass* Harriet Cass* John Cass , English politician and philanthropist...
. Other popular entertainment includes karaoke bars, several of which can be found on Joam's main street and in Joam Plaza.
Joam has many restaurants. These include several Korean diners that serve popular dishes such as dak galbi
Dak galbi
Dak galbi, also romanized dalk galbi, is a popular South Korean dish generally made by stir-frying marinated diced chicken in a gochujang based sauce, and sliced cabbage, sweet potato, scallions, onions and tteok together on a hot plate...
, bibimbap
Bibimbap
Bibimbap is a signature Korean dish. The word literally means "mixed meal." Bibimbap is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with namul and gochujang . A raw or fried egg and sliced meat are common additions. The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating...
and kimbap. These dishes are commonly served with kimchi
Kimchi
Kimchi , also spelled gimchi, kimchee, or kim chee, is a traditional fermented Korean dish made of vegetables with varied seasonings. There are hundreds of varieties of kimchi made with a main vegetable ingredient such as napa cabbage, radish, green onions or cucumber. It is the most common...
and other banchan
Banchan
Banchan refers to small dishes of food served along with cooked rice in Korean cuisine. This word is used both in the singular and plural....
(side dishes).
Joam is also home to a mountaintop park and exercise area. This park has an excellent view of the town, a picnic area, and exercise equipment. Ujeong-eup Town Hall provides an exercise facility and local library, and hosts local events. A small lake and fishing resort is also located just outside of town.
Places of worship
Joam, like the rest of South Korea, is home to both ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
and Buddhist places of worship. Joam has several churches, both Protestant and Catholic, which can often be recognized by their lit steeples. There is also a Buddhist temple at the base of the hilltop park.
Climate
Located in the midwest area of the Korean PeninsulaKorean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
, the town is in a transitional area between the warmer and more humid south and the cooler continental north. Temperatures in winter are low along the coast since Joam is located in the lower plains close to the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
, where the water is shallow. Therefore, Joam's climate is classified as midwest coastal. Winters are generally dry, sunny and cold with temperatures in January averaging below freezing. Summer is hot and humid, and is the wettest season. Spring and fall are the mildest and most comfortable seasons and are also periods of flowering and agricultural activity. Because of Joam's abundant natural and agricultural scenery, spring and fall afford the best opportunities to appreciate the scenery around Joam.
Nature and Agriculture
The area surrounding Joam is primarily agricultural with numerous patches of forested land. The countryside is home to many pinePine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
and leafy trees, various flowers and birds, and edible plants that are collected by the local population. Many farms in the area are operated by small holders and families farming rice in fields and vegetables in greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
s. In the late summer drying peppers are a common sight in front of many farmhouses. In the autumn, rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
is harvested in vast quantities, as is celebrated at the Chuseok
Chuseok
Chuseok , originally known as Hangawi , is a major harvest festival and a three-day holiday in Korea celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Like many other harvest festivals, it is held around the Autumn Equinox...
festival. In the winter, agricultural scraps are burned in the fields to restore nutrients and clear the way for spring planting. In the spring, the fields are flooded and planted with new rice seedlings which sprout first in greenhouses. The area is also home to many older traditional farmhouses that give it a unique historical flavor.
When walking the many paths and country roads around Joam many traditional burial mounds can be seen. These grass-covered tombs are the focus of traditional ceremonies at Chuseok and Korean New Year
Korean New Year
Korean New Year, commonly known as Seollal , is the first day of the lunar calendar. It is the most important of the traditional Korean holidays. It consists of a period of celebrations, starting on New Year's Day. Koreans also celebrate solar New Year's Day on January 1 each year, following the...
.
Schools
Joam has several public and private schools. Public schools include elementary schools, both boys' and girls' middle schools and a high school. The town also has several private academies. Students attending these receive extra education in subjects ranging from math and music to taekwondoTaekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
and English.