Miryang, often spelled
Milyang, is a
city||South Korea is divided into 8 provinces , 1 special autonomous province , 6 metropolitan cities , and 1 special city...
in
Gyeongsangnam-doGyeongsangnam-do is a province in the southeast of South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Changwon. It contains the major metropolitan center and port of Busan. Located there is UNESCO World Heritage Site Haeinsa, a Buddhist temple that houses the Tripitaka Koreana and attracts many...
Province,
South KoreaThe 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...
. Neighboring cities include
ChangnyeongChangnyeong County is a county in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.In the early Three Kingdoms period, Changnyeong was the seat of Bihwa Gaya, a member of the Gaya confederacy which was later conquered by Silla....
to the west, Cheongdo to the north,
UlsanUlsan , officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring Busan to the south and facing Gyeongju to the north and the Sea of Japan to the east.Ulsan is the...
to the east, and
YangsanYangsan is a city in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, South Korea.-Administrative divisions:Currently, Yangsan is made up of 1 eup, 4 myeon, and 7 dong. There are plans, however, to create a new Ungsang-eup, which would include 4 dong.-Railways:...
,
GimhaeGimhae, also commonly spelled Kimhae, is a city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Gimhae is known to locals as "The Paris of Gyeongsangnamdo." It is the seat of the large Gimhae Kim clan, one of the largest Kim clans in Korea...
, and
ChangwonChangwon is a city in and the capital of Gyeongsangnam-do in South Korea. Changwon city is 8th most populous city in South Korea, with a 2010 established population of 1,089,039. It encompasses a land area of on southeastern of South Korea. The population of Southeastern part of Korea, that...
to the south. The city bird is the
Korean magpieThe Korean Magpie Pica sericea, known as "ggachee" in Korean, is generally treated as an East Asian subspecies, of the European Magpie , but it may be a distinct species. It is a common symbol of the Korean identity, and has been adopted as the "official bird" of numerous South Korean cities,...
, the city tree is the
pinePines 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 the city flower is the royal azalea.
The recorded history of Miryang begins in the
SamhanThe Samhan period of Korean history comprises confederacies of Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan in central and southern Korean peninsula, during the final century BCE and the early centuries CE....
period, when it was known as
MirimidonggukMirimidongguk was one of the 12 tribes or polities making up the Byeonhan confederation. It is mentioned in the San guo zhi, and is generally believed to have been located near the modern-day city of Miryang in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea....
. Due to its strategic location near the
Nakdong RiverThe Nakdong River is the longest river in South Korea, and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Busan.-Geography:...
, Miryang played an important role from the
SillaSilla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
period forward. It served as an important station on the
Great Yeongnam RoadThe Great Yeongnam Road, or Yeongnamdaero, was one of the principal roads of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty, 1392-1910. It ran between Hanseong and Dongnae . More generally, it served to connect the Gyeongsang province to the capital. It takes its name from Yeongnam, an alternate name for the...
during the later
Joseon DynastyJoseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
, and in the 20th century it became a station on the
Gyeongbu LineThe Gyeongbu Line is the most important railway line in South Korea and one of the oldest. It was constructed by Japan in 1905, connecting Seoul to Suwon, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan. The Gyeongbu Line is by far the most heavily travelled rail line in South Korea...
railroad that connects
BusanBusan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
to
SeoulSeoul , 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...
. Miryang remains a key stop along that line, and is now the only city between Busan and
DaeguDaegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
served by KTX express trains.
Miryang is known around Korea for the Miryang
arirang"Arirang" is a Korean folk song, sometimes considered the unofficial national anthem of Korea. Arirang is an ancient native Korean word with no direct modern meaning.- Variations :...
and for the view from the
YeongnamnuThe Yeongnamnu or Yeongnamru is a pavilion on a cliff overlooking the curve of the Miryang River in central Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. It dates to the Joseon Dynasty and is one of the central cultural treasures of Miryang. The current structure was built in 1884 according to the...
pavilion, subject of numerous poems from the
Joseon DynastyJoseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
. Other noted landmarks include
EoreumgolEoreumgol or Ice Valley is a valley in Miryang, South Korea. It gets its name and its notoriety from the freezing cold found there even in midsummer. This phenomenon is believed to be due to local airflow patterns, particularly cold air emerging from underground.The valley is situated on the...
and the temple of
PyochungsaPyochungsa, originally Jungnimsa, is a Korean Buddhist temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It stands on the slopes of Jaeyaksan mountain near Cheonhwangsan in the Yeongnam Alps in Danjang-myeon, northern Miryang, South Korea....
. Famous people from Miryang include 15th-century
Neo-ConfucianNeo-Confucianism is an ethical and metaphysical Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianism, that was primarily developed during the Song Dynasty and Ming Dynasty, but which can be traced back to Han Yu and Li Ao in the Tang Dynasty....
scholar
Kim Jong-jikKim Jong-jik , often known by his pen name Jeompiljae, was a leading Korean Neo-Confucian scholar in the early Joseon Dynasty. He was born in Miryang in Gyeongsang province, to a yangban family of the Seonsan Kim lineage...
and 16th-century warrior-monk
Songun Yu JeongSamyeongdang , also known by his Buddhist name, Yujeong , was a Korean Buddhist monk during the Joseon Dynasty. He is sometimes identified by his pen name, Song-un. He was born to a family of the Im clan in Miryang, Gyeongsang province...
. The city government works actively to maintain the memory of these figures, and of other local cultural features such as the tale of
ArangArang is a figure in the folklore of the Miryang area of Korea. According to the legend, she was the daughter of a magistrate of Miryang during the Joseon Dynasty. Her wicked nanny conspired to have the servant Baekga seize her at night and rape her; however, she resisted and Baekga stabbed her...
.
Geography and climate
Miryang's geography is heavily influenced by the two rivers which flow through it, the Miryang and
NakdongThe Nakdong River is the longest river in South Korea, and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Busan.-Geography:...
Rivers. All of Miryang lies within the Nakdong basin, and the Nakdong River itself runs along Miryang's southern border. The city's topography generally slopes from the high peaks of the
Yeongnam AlpsThe Yeongnam Alps are a group of relatively tall mountains in the Yeongnam region of southeastern South Korea. They are much shorter than the European Alps, only slightly over 1000 m...
in the northeast to the Nakdong valley in the southwest. Much of the city is drained by the
Miryang RiverThe Miryang River is a tributary of the Nakdong River which flows through Miryang City. It rises in Ulsan metropolitan city, on the slopes of Gohyeonsan, and flows for 101.5 kilometers before joining the Nakdong in Miryang's Samnangjin-eup. Its narrower upper reaches are often called the...
, which rises in western
UlsanUlsan , officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring Busan to the south and facing Gyeongju to the north and the Sea of Japan to the east.Ulsan is the...
and flows through the city center to join the Nakdong at
SamnangjinSamnangjin or Samnangjin-eup, is an eup, or town, in Miryang City, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. It is composed of thirteen ri. Samnangjin lies in the southeastern corner of Miryang, bordering Wondong-myeon in Yangsan City.The Gyeongbu Line railroad passes through Samnangjin, and Mugunghwa-ho...
. Portions are drained by other Nakdong tributaries, including the Naejincheon.
The Miryang River valley south of the city center broadens into a fertile plain. This area, including large portions of Samnangjin-eup, Sangnam-myeon, and
Hanam-eupHanam-eup is an eup, or large village, in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. It stands at the southern tip of Miryang, and looks across the Nakdong River at the northern tips of Gimhae and Changwon....
, serves as a local breadbasket and is almost entirely devoted to rice-farming. In Hanam-eup, it joins another plain running along the Nakdong.
As elsewhere in the
YeongnamYeongnam is the name of a region that coincides with the former Gyeongsang Province in what is now South Korea....
region, the landscape is very lumpy, with many craggy hills and low mountains. The highest mountain in Miryang is
GajisanGajisan is a mountain in South Korea. It sits on the boundary between the city of Ulsan, the city of Miryang in the province of Gyeongsangnam-do, and Cheongdo County in Gyeongsangbuk-do. Gajisan has an elevation of .-References:...
(1240 m), which stands on the northern border. Other high peaks along the border include
HwaaksanHwaaksan is a mountain in South Korea whose area extends over Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi-do and Hwacheon County, Gangwon-do. It has an elevation of ....
and
CheonhwangsanCheonhwangsan is a mountain in South Korea. It sits on the boundary between the city of Ulsan and the city of Miryang, in the province of Gyeongsangnam-do. Cheonhwangsan has an elevation of ....
(also called Jaeyaksan). These peaks are part of the Yeongnam Alps, a branch of the
Taebaek MountainsThe Taebaek Mountains are a mountain range in both North Korea and South Korea. They form the main ridge of the Korean peninsula.-Geography:...
.
Further south, the mountains are lower but still quite frequent. Notable peaks in this area include Maneosan in Samnangjin and
CheontaesanCheontaesan can refer to:*Cheontaesan , 631 m, on the border of Miryang and Yangsan cities.*Cheontaesan , 715 m, on the border of Yeongdong and Geumsan counties....
on the border with
YangsanYangsan is a city in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, South Korea.-Administrative divisions:Currently, Yangsan is made up of 1 eup, 4 myeon, and 7 dong. There are plans, however, to create a new Ungsang-eup, which would include 4 dong.-Railways:...
. Steep mountain valleys abound; these are often used for
reservoirA reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
s that store water for
irrigationIrrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
or
drinkingDrinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
purposes. Some of the larger reservoirs in Miryang include Miryang Lake and Antae Lake.
Climate
Like most of the rest of
South KoreaThe 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...
, Miryang enjoys a relatively mild temperate climate. The average windspeed is about 1.4 m/s, the average temperature 14.4 C, and the annual rainfall in 2004 was 1,377.40 mm.
The mountains along its north flank afford Miryang a measure of shelter from heavy winds and other severe weather coming from the north. On the other hand, it is relatively vulnerable to damage from tropical storms encroaching from the south.
The Miryang and Nakdong valleys are subject to frequent floods during typhoons, as well as more predictable flooding during the
monsoon seasonThe East Asian monsoon is a monsoonal flow that carries moist air from the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean to East Asia. It affects approximately one-third of the global population, influencing the climate of Japan , the Koreas, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and much of mainland China...
. Other natural disasters are uncommon.
History
During the
SamhanThe Samhan period of Korean history comprises confederacies of Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan in central and southern Korean peninsula, during the final century BCE and the early centuries CE....
period, Miryang may have been part of the territory of
MirimidonggukMirimidongguk was one of the 12 tribes or polities making up the Byeonhan confederation. It is mentioned in the San guo zhi, and is generally believed to have been located near the modern-day city of Miryang in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea....
, one of the Byeonhan tribes mentioned in the
San guo zhi. Thereafter, it is believed to have been ruled by
Geumgwan GayaGeumgwan Gaya , also known as Bon-Gaya or Garakguk , was the ruling city-state of the Gaya confederacy during the Three Kingdoms Period in Korea. It is believed to have been located around the modern-day city of Gimhae, Southern Gyeongsang province, near the mouth of the Nakdong River...
before being annexed by
SillaSilla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
. The
Samguk SagiSamguk Sagi is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The Samguk Sagi is written in Classical Chinese and its compilation was ordered by Goryeo's King Injong Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of...
records Mirimidongguk as being annexed by
Jijeung of SillaJijeung of Silla was the 22nd ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He is remembered for strengthening royal authority and building Silla into a centralized kingdom....
in 505 CE. In this period it was known as Chuhwa-gun (推火郡). Under the general reformation of names carried out by
King GyeongdeokKing Gyeongdeok of Silla was the 35th ruler who reigned from 742 to 765 over the kingdom of Silla. He is perhaps best known today for his efforts to encourage Buddhism....
in the 8th century, the name was changed to "Milseong-gun" (密城郡).
In the
GoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
period (935-1392), Miryang was elevated to the status of a
juZhou were historical political divisions of China. Formally established during the Han Dynasty, zhou continued to exist until the establishment of the Republic of China — a period of over 2000 years...
, Mil-ju, by
King SeongjongSeongjong of Goryeo was the sixth monarch of the medieval Korean kingdom Goryeo. He was the second son of Daejong, and a grandson of Emperor Taejo. He ascended the throne after Gyeongjong stepped down....
. In 1194, Miryang was the site of a massive battle between royal forces and a massive rebel army led by Kim Sami of Cheongdo and Hyosim of Ulsan. More than 7000 rebels were slain. Under
King ChungnyeolChungnyeol of Goryeo was the 25th ruler of the medieval Korean kingdom of Goryeo. He was the son of Wonjong, his predecessor on the throne....
in the late 13th century, local residents led by Jo Cheon rose up against the government; in retaliation, Mil-ju was demoted to a tributary village of
GyeongjuGyeongju is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of 269,343 people according to the 2008 census. Gyeongju is southeast of Seoul, and east of the...
(then Gyerim). Later it became a
hyeonThe hyeon were administrative subdivisions of Korea during the Silla, Goryeo, and Joseon periods. They were typically slightly smaller than today's si and gun . They were abolished in the Gabo Reform of 1895.During the Goryeo period, there were about 335 Hyeon; during the Joseon period, 164....
. Under
King GongyangGongyang of Goryeo was the 34th and final ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was deposed by Yi Seonggye, who then established the Joseon Dynasty....
, it was raised to the status of a
bu.
With the dawn of the
JoseonJoseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
period (1392-1910), Miryang first became known by its modern name. Initially demoted from
bu to
gun (county) by
King TaejoTaejo of Joseon , born Yi Seong-gye, whose changed name is Yi Dan, was the founder and the first king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea, and the main figure in overthrowing the Goryeo Dynasty...
, it was then raised back to
bu and its name changed from "Milseong" to "Miryang." Under Taejo's son
King TaejongKing Taejong was the third king of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great.-Founding of Joseon:...
, it was once again demoted to
gun. Later it became a
dohobu, or military protectorate, and in 1895 it became a
gun once again; it was to carry this status until late in the 20th century.
Under
Japanese ruleKorea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
, Miryang was the site of various clashes between the
Korean independence movementThe Korean independence movement grew out of the Japanese colonial rule of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945. After the Japanese surrendered, Korea became independent; that day is now an annual holiday called Gwangbokjeol in South Korea, and Chogukhaebangŭi nal in North Korea.-Background:In...
and the occupation forces. During the March First Movement of 1919, approximately 13,500 Miryang residents took part in peaceful demonstrations in support of Korean independence. This led to the "Miryang massacre," in which 150 Korean civilians were shot by occupation troops. In November 1920, independence fighter Choe Su-bong built and detonated two bombs at the Miryang police station, destroying the structure. He attempted to kill himself but was unsuccessful; later he was put to death and his accomplices were imprisoned.
In 1989 the city center was separated from the rest of Miryang and named "Miryang-si" (Miryang City). In 1995 the city center was reunited with the hinterland and the entire region became known as Miryang-si. Both of these were part of general reorganizations of South Korean local government.
Administrative divisions
Miryang is divided into 16 primary divisions, of which 2 are
eup (large villages), 5 are
dong (city precincts), and 9 are
myeon (rural areas). Some of the
dong are further subdivided, so that the city center is composed of eight legal
dong in total. The
eup and
myeon are broken into
ri, of which Miryang has a total of 265 administrative or 119 legal.
| District |
Population |
Area (km²) |
Population density |
Number of administrative ri or tong |
| Samnangjin-eup |
8,784 |
78.37 |
112.1 |
31 |
| Hanam-eup Hanam-eup is an eup, or large village, in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. It stands at the southern tip of Miryang, and looks across the Nakdong River at the northern tips of Gimhae and Changwon....
|
9,762 |
37.09 |
263.2 |
33 |
| Bubuk-myeon |
7,467 |
55.31 |
135.0 |
22 |
| Sangnam-myeon |
11,719 |
56.11 |
208.9 |
31 |
| Sangdong-myeon |
3,423 |
52.01 |
65.8 |
18 |
| Sannae-myeon |
4,205 |
107.49 |
39.1 |
23 |
| Sanoe-myeon |
3,143 |
35.41 |
88.8 |
19 |
| Danjang-myeon |
4,542 |
142.12 |
32.0 |
24 |
| Chodong-myeon |
4,135 |
48.45 |
85.3 |
24 |
| Muan-myeon |
6,646 |
100.33 |
66.2 |
28 |
| Cheongdo-myeon |
2,214 |
57.44 |
38.5 |
12 |
| Gyo-dong |
8,055 |
4.61 |
|
8 |
| Naeil-dong |
5,309 |
12.07 |
1,747.2 |
10 |
| Naei-dong |
10,347 |
3.06 |
3,381.4 |
12 |
| Gagok-dong |
10,509 |
6.21 |
1,692.2 |
13 |
| Sammun-dong |
15,936 |
2.93 |
5,438.9 |
14 |
Government and politics
Like other cities and counties in South Korea, Miryang enjoys a limited degree of local autonomy. Since 1995, the mayor and city council have been elected directly by the local citizens.
The current mayor is Um Yong Su, a member of the
Uri PartyThe Yeollin Uri Party , generally abbreviated to Uri Party , was the briefly ruling political party in South Korea with a centrist political ideology...
. He took office on July 1, 2006. His victory was one of only two Uri triumphs at the city/county level in Gyeongsangnam-do in the May 2006 local elections, which were a national landslide for the conservative Hannara party.
Economy
The economy of Miryang draws heavily on its central location and prominence as a tourist destination. In addition, agriculture continues to play an important role, particularly in outlying districts. The Miryang River valley supports extensive rice farming operations, while livestock farming is more common on higher ground.
Transportation
Miryang is roughly equidistant from
DaeguDaegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
and
BusanBusan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
, and is connected to both cities by road and rail. By road, Miryang is served by two exits on the
Daegu-Busan ExpresswayThe Daegu-Busan Expressway is an expressway in southeastern South Korea, connecting the cities of Busan and Daegu. It is 82 kilometers long, with two lanes of traffic in each direction and eight interchanges...
, as well as numerous national and local highways. By rail, it is served both by the
Gyeongbu LineThe Gyeongbu Line is the most important railway line in South Korea and one of the oldest. It was constructed by Japan in 1905, connecting Seoul to Suwon, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan. The Gyeongbu Line is by far the most heavily travelled rail line in South Korea...
(Seoul-Busan) and the
Gyeongjeon LineThe Gyeongjeon Line is a railway line serving South Gyeongsang and South Jeolla Provinces in South Korea. It covers a total of 324.8 km, from Samnangjin Station in Miryang, South Gyeongsang, to Gwangju·Songjeong Station in Gwangju, South Jeolla.-History:An east-west railway along Korea's...
(to
MasanMasan was a formerly a municipal city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The city was situated on Masan Bay , approximately 35 km west of Busan. It was known for its textile industry, and it was the site of Hite Brewery's production facilities.During the control of the Mongolians, the...
); the northern terminus of the Gyeongjeon Line lies just north of
SamnangjinSamnangjin or Samnangjin-eup, is an eup, or town, in Miryang City, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. It is composed of thirteen ri. Samnangjin lies in the southeastern corner of Miryang, bordering Wondong-myeon in Yangsan City.The Gyeongbu Line railroad passes through Samnangjin, and Mugunghwa-ho...
near the meeting of the Nakdong and Miryang Rivers. Miryang is the only city between Daegu and Busan currently served by the KTX express train.
In addition to
Miryang StationMiryang Station is on South Korea's high-speed KTX railway network, 55 km south of Dongdaegu Station.-History:The station opened on January 1, 1905 to trains on the Gyeongbu Line. The building was destroyed by fire on February 12, 1962. The station was elevated in its determined importance...
in the city center, outlying regions are served by
SamnangjinSamnangjin or Samnangjin-eup, is an eup, or town, in Miryang City, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. It is composed of thirteen ri. Samnangjin lies in the southeastern corner of Miryang, bordering Wondong-myeon in Yangsan City.The Gyeongbu Line railroad passes through Samnangjin, and Mugunghwa-ho...
Station and Sangdong Station on the Gyeongbu Line, and
Nakdonggang StationNakdonggang Station is a railway station in South Korea. It is on Gyeongjeon Line. Trains go here....
on the Gyeongjeon Line. These outlying stations are served only by a small number of
Mugunghwa-hoThe Mugunghwa-ho or Mugunghwa is a class of train operated by Korail, the national railroad of South Korea. Mugunghwa trains are the cheapest class of trains to operate cross-country. Prior to the introduction of the KTX in 2004, they were the most common passenger train along most railroad lines...
passenger trains.
Except for Nakdonggang Station, the stations in Miryang also serve freight trains. The most active freight station is Sangdong, which sent out 74,762 tons of freight in 2004.
Culture
Miryang is known as the home of the Miryang
arirang"Arirang" is a Korean folk song, sometimes considered the unofficial national anthem of Korea. Arirang is an ancient native Korean word with no direct modern meaning.- Variations :...
. This is sometimes considered to be close to the original version of the arirang, which may have drawn its name from the Miryang area folktale of Arang. The Miryang Arirang Festival is held each May to commemorate and keep alive this tradition and other aspects of local heritage.
Other preserved aspects of Korean traditional culture are the Baekjung performances.
The people of Miryang speak a version of the
Gyeongsang dialectThe Gyeongsang dialect is a dialect of the Korean language which is widely used in the Yeongnam region, which includes North and South Gyeongsang provinces. The Gyeongsang Dialect is considered the direct descendant of the Silla language by Korean linguists...
of
KoreanKorean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
. In studies of Korean dialectology, Miryang dialect has been contrasted with the
ChangwonChangwon is a city in and the capital of Gyeongsangnam-do in South Korea. Changwon city is 8th most populous city in South Korea, with a 2010 established population of 1,089,039. It encompasses a land area of on southeastern of South Korea. The population of Southeastern part of Korea, that...
dialect in terms of the use of pitch.
Education
The history of education in Miryang can be traced back to the
GoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
period, when a
hyanggyoThe Hyanggyo were government-run provincial schools established separately during the Goryeo Dynasty and Joseon Dynasty , but did not meet with widespread success in either dynasty...
, a government-run village school, was constructed in the town center (modern-day Gyo-dong). This school, famed for its size, continued in operation through the
JoseonJoseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
period, although it was gradually supplanted by numerous local
seodangSeodang were private village schools providing elementary education during the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties of Korea.-Background:They were primarily occupied with providing initial training in the Chinese classics to boys of 7-16 years of age, but often served students into their twenties. Not...
and
seowonSeowon were the most common educational institution of Korea during the mid- to late Joseon Dynasty. They were private institutions, and combined the functions of a Confucian shrine and a preparatory school. In educational terms, the seowon were primarily occupied with preparing students for the...
. All of these institutions concentrated on training young men for the
royal civil service examinationsThe gwageo were the national civil service examinations under the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties of Korea. Typically quite demanding, these tests measured candidates' knowledge of the Chinese classics, and sometimes also of technical subjects...
. This system lasted until the abolition of the examinations in the Gabo Reforms of 1894.
Today in Miryang, as elsewhere in South Korea, compulsory public education is provided for all students through middle school, and almost all students complete high school as well. Education within the city is overseen by the Miryang Office of Education, which is administered directly by the Gyeongsangnam-do provincial Office of Education. This is in turn accountable to the national Ministry of Education, which sets the national curriculum for all schools.
There are 23 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, and 8 high schools in Miryang. Supplementary private education is offered through
hagwonHagwon is the Korean-language word for a for-profit private institute, academy or cram-school prevalent in South Korea. The term is also sometimes used to describe similar institutions operated by Korean Americans in the United States...
s, which are strongly concentrated in the city center, with some in outlying towns.
There is only one institution of higher education in Miryang. This is the Miryang campus of
Pusan National UniversityPusan National University is one of ten flagship Korean national universities and a leading university in South Korea...
. The Miryang campus primarily serves commuter students, drawn from Miryang as well as neighboring cities including
ChangwonChangwon is a city in and the capital of Gyeongsangnam-do in South Korea. Changwon city is 8th most populous city in South Korea, with a 2010 established population of 1,089,039. It encompasses a land area of on southeastern of South Korea. The population of Southeastern part of Korea, that...
,
GimhaeGimhae, also commonly spelled Kimhae, is a city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Gimhae is known to locals as "The Paris of Gyeongsangnamdo." It is the seat of the large Gimhae Kim clan, one of the largest Kim clans in Korea...
,
MasanMasan was a formerly a municipal city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The city was situated on Masan Bay , approximately 35 km west of Busan. It was known for its textile industry, and it was the site of Hite Brewery's production facilities.During the control of the Mongolians, the...
, and
BusanBusan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
. It is located in northern Samnangjin-eup, near the city center. A branch campus, formerly the main campus, is located near downtown Miryang. These two campuses were merged into Pusan National University in 2006. Previously, they made up a separate university called Miryang National University, which traced its roots back to 1923.
Tourism
Miryang has been known for centuries for its scenery of mountains and valleys; the
YeongnamnuThe Yeongnamnu or Yeongnamru is a pavilion on a cliff overlooking the curve of the Miryang River in central Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. It dates to the Joseon Dynasty and is one of the central cultural treasures of Miryang. The current structure was built in 1884 according to the...
pavilion overlooking the Miryang River appears in numerous Joseon Dynasty writings. The northeastern corner of the city occupies a portion of the
Yeongnam AlpsThe Yeongnam Alps are a group of relatively tall mountains in the Yeongnam region of southeastern South Korea. They are much shorter than the European Alps, only slightly over 1000 m...
; part of this region is included in Gajisan Provincial Park. Noted natural landmarks include the "ice valley" of
EoreumgolEoreumgol or Ice Valley is a valley in Miryang, South Korea. It gets its name and its notoriety from the freezing cold found there even in midsummer. This phenomenon is believed to be due to local airflow patterns, particularly cold air emerging from underground.The valley is situated on the...
, also located in the northeast.
A number of noted historic landmarks are found in Miryang. These include various
seowonSeowon were the most common educational institution of Korea during the mid- to late Joseon Dynasty. They were private institutions, and combined the functions of a Confucian shrine and a preparatory school. In educational terms, the seowon were primarily occupied with preparing students for the...
, or Confucian academies, including the
Yerim SeowonYerim Seowon is a former seowon in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do. It is located in Bubuk-myeon on the slopes of Jongnamsan, in the valley of the Miryang River....
dedicated to
Kim Jong-jikKim Jong-jik , often known by his pen name Jeompiljae, was a leading Korean Neo-Confucian scholar in the early Joseon Dynasty. He was born in Miryang in Gyeongsang province, to a yangban family of the Seonsan Kim lineage...
and the Pyochung Seowon, which is the only seowon constructed inside a Buddhist temple (
PyochungsaPyochungsa, originally Jungnimsa, is a Korean Buddhist temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It stands on the slopes of Jaeyaksan mountain near Cheonhwangsan in the Yeongnam Alps in Danjang-myeon, northern Miryang, South Korea....
). The Yeongnamnu pavilion and nearby buildings date from the
JoseonJoseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
and
GoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
periods.
South Korean National TreasureThe National Treasures of Korea are a numbered set of tangible treasures, artifacts, sites, and buildings which are recognized by South Korea as having exceptional artistic, cultural and historical value...
No. 75 is located at Pyochungsa.
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