Onsong
Encyclopedia
Onsŏng is a county in North Hamgyong Province, North Korea
, located near the border with China
. The administrative center is the town (ŭp
) of Onsong. Onsong is the alleged site of the former Onsong concentration camp
, now closed.
(1418–1450) to safeguard his people from the hostile Chinese and Manchurian nomads living in Manchuria
.
, which forms the border with China
. To the north of Onsong is Jilin
Province, China. Onsong also contains the northernmost point in Korea
, at 43°0'39″ N. Liangshui , in Tumen
prefecture, is the closest Chinese town across the river.
The land of Onsong is mainly mountainous, although a part is flatland. It has a continental climate, and is the region of Korea with the longest winter, except the Kaema Plateau
. The highest peak is Yŏndubong.
coal is also produced.
into China.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, located near the border with China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The administrative center is the town (ŭp
Administrative divisions of North Korea
The administrative divisions of North Korea are organized into three hierarchical levels. Many of the units have equivalents in the system of South Korea. At the highest level are nine provinces, two directly governed cities, and three special administrative divisions. The second-level divisions...
) of Onsong. Onsong is the alleged site of the former Onsong concentration camp
Onsong concentration camp
The Onsong concentration camp was an internment camp in North Korea. It housed approximately 15,000 political prisoners and was located in Changpyong, Onsong County, North Hamgyong. It was officially known as Concentration Camp No...
, now closed.
History
Onsong was one of the six post/garrisons established under the order of Sejong the Great of JoseonSejong the Great of Joseon
Sejong the Great was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. During his regency, he reinforced Korean Confucian policies and executed major legal amendments . He also used the creation of Hangul and the advancement of technology to expand his territory...
(1418–1450) to safeguard his people from the hostile Chinese and Manchurian nomads living in Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
.
Geography
Onsong lies along the Tumen RiverTumen River
The Tumen River is a 521 km-long river that serves as part of the boundary between China, North Korea, and Russia, rising in Mount Baekdu and flowing into the Sea of Japan....
, which forms the border with China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. To the north of Onsong is Jilin
Jilin
Jilin , is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. Jilin borders North Korea and Russia to the east, Heilongjiang to the north, Liaoning to the south, and Inner Mongolia to the west...
Province, China. Onsong also contains the northernmost point in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, at 43°0'39″ N. Liangshui , in Tumen
Tumen, Jilin
Tumen is a county-level city in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, eastern Jilin province, Northeast China. Of its 136,000 inhabitants, approximately 78,000 are of Korean descent. The two official languages are Chinese and Korean. Tumen is separated from Namyang of North Hamgyong province of...
prefecture, is the closest Chinese town across the river.
The land of Onsong is mainly mountainous, although a part is flatland. It has a continental climate, and is the region of Korea with the longest winter, except the Kaema Plateau
Kaema Plateau
The Kaema Plateau is a highland in North Korea. It is surrounded by Rangrim Mountains, Macheollyeong Mountains and Bujeollyeong Mountains. It varies between 700 and 2,000 meters of altitude and at 40,000 square kilometers, sloping downward towards the northern border with People's Republic of...
. The highest peak is Yŏndubong.
Economy
Being mountainous in nature, Onsong is not well suited to agriculture. Ironically, however, it has the highest ratio of rice paddies to dry fields of any district in North Hamgyong Province. Logging is prevalent in the Tumen River basin. LigniteLignite
Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, or Rosebud coal by Northern Pacific Railroad,is a soft brown fuel with characteristics that put it somewhere between coal and peat...
coal is also produced.
Transportation
Onsong is served by roads and railroads. In winter, it is also possible to cross the frozen Tumen RiverTumen River
The Tumen River is a 521 km-long river that serves as part of the boundary between China, North Korea, and Russia, rising in Mount Baekdu and flowing into the Sea of Japan....
into China.
Third-level administrative divisions
Onsong County is divided into 1 town ("Ŭp") 15 villages ("Ri") and 10 worker's districts ("Rodongjagu").| Chosŏn'gŭl Hangul Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean... |
Hancha Hanja Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation... |
|
|---|---|---|
| Onsŏng-ŭp | 온성읍 | 穩城邑 |
| Namyang-rodongjagu | 남양노동자구 | 南陽勞動者區 |
| Ontan-rodongjagu | 온탄노동자구 | 穩炭勞動者區 |
| Sanghwa-rodongjagu | 상화노동자구 | 上和勞動煮區 |
| Chuwon-rodongjagu | 주원노동자구 | 周原勞動者區 |
| Pungin-rodongjagu | 풍인노동자구 | 豊仁勞動者區 |
| Chongsong-rodongjagu | 종성노동자구 | 鍾城勞動者區 |
| Changpyong-rodongjagu | 창평노동자구 | 蒼坪勞動者區 |
| Tongpo-rodongjagu | 동포노동자구 | 東浦勞動者區 |
| Sansong-rodongjagu | 산성노동자구 | 山城勞動者區 |
| Sambong-rodongjagu | 삼봉노동자구 | 三峰勞動者區 |
| Pungha-ri | 풍하리 | 豊利里 |
| Pungso-ri | 풍서리 | 豊西里 |
| Seson-ri | 세선리 | 世仙里 |
| Hyangdang-ri | 향당리 | 香堂里 |
| Ryongnam-ri | 룡남리 | 龍南里 |
| Wangjaesan-ri | 왕재산리 | |
| Misan-ri | 미산리 | 美山里 |
| Tulubong-ri | 두루봉리 | |
| Kangan-ri | 강안리 | 江岸里 |
| Yonggang-ri | 영강리 | 永江里 |
| Pungchon-ri | 풍천리 | 豊川里 |
| Hasambong-ri | 하삼봉리 | 下三峰里 |
| Punggye-ri | 풍계리 | 豊溪里 |
| Unam-ri | 운암리 | 雲岩里 |
| Chungsan-ri | 증산리 | 甑山里 |
Notables personalities
- Yang Dae-su
- Shin Rip , the prefect of Onsong , before the Imjin War
- Jung You-ji
- Choi Gwan
- Go Gyung-jin
