South Gyeongsang Province

South Gyeongsang Province (Korean: 경상남도, romanized: Gyeongsangnam-do, Korean pronunciation: [kjʌŋ.saŋ.nam.do]) is a province in the southeast of South Korea. The provincial capital is at Changwon. It is adjacent to the major metropolitan center and port of Busan. There is UNESCO World Heritage Site Haeinsa, a Buddhist temple that houses the Tripitaka Koreana and attracts many tourists. Automobile and petrochemical factories are largely concentrated along the southern part of the province, extending from Ulsan through Busan, Changwon, and Jinju.

South Gyeongsang Province

경상남도
Province
Korean transcription(s)
 • Hangul경상남도
 • Hanja慶尙南道
 • McCune‑ReischauerKyŏngsang-namdo
 • Revised RomanizationGyeongsangnam-do
Flag
Coordinates: 35°15′N 128°15′E
CountrySouth Korea
RegionYeongnam
CapitalChangwon
Subdivisions8 cities; 10 counties
Government
 • GovernorKim Kyoung-soo
(Democratic)
Area
 • Total10,533 km2 (4,067 sq mi)
Area rank4th
Population
 (December, 2018)
 • Total3,447,687
 • Rank2nd
 • Density327.86/km2 (849.2/sq mi)
Metropolitan Symbols
 • FlowerRose
 • TreeZelkova
 • BirdWhite heron
ISO 3166 codeKR-48
DialectGyeongsang

Etymology

The name derives from Korean Gyeongsang 'joyous furthermore'; from gyeong (Korean 경, Hanja 慶)​ 'happy', and sang (Korean 상, Hanja 尚)​ 'still more'. The name derives from the names of the principal cities of Gyeongju (경주; 慶州) and Sangju (상주; 尙州).

History

Before 1895, the area corresponding to modern-day South Gyeongsang Province was part of Gyeongsang Province, one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon. In 1895, southern Gyeongsang was replaced by the districts of Jinju in the west and Dongnae (modern-day Busan) in the east. In 1896, they were merged to form South Gyeongsang Province.

The provincial capital was originally at Jinju; it moved in 1925 to Busan. In 1948, South Gyeongsang Province became part of South Korea. In 1963, Busan separated from South Gyeongsang Province to become a Directly Governed City (Jikhalsi). In 1983, the provincial capital moved from Busan to Changwon.

In 1995, Busan became a Metropolitan City (Gwangyeoksi), and Ulsan separated from South Gyeongsang Province to become a Metropolitan City in 1997.

Geography

The province is part of the Yeongnam region, on the north by North Gyeongsang Province, on the west by North Jeolla Province and South Jeolla Province, and on the south by the Korea Strait far from Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Most of the province is drained by the Nakdong River and its tributaries. The total area of the province is 10,533 square kilometres (4,067 sq mi).[1]

Resources

The Nakdong delta plain around Gimhae is one of the best granaries in South Korea. Agricultural products form Gyeongsangnam-do include rice, beans, potatoes, and barley. The area is renowned for its cotton, sesame, and fruits which are grown along the southern seaside. A number of marine products are caught. The province is one of the country's leading fisheries.

Major cities

The largest cities in the region are Busan and Ulsan, which are separately administered as provincial-level Metropolitan Cities. Apart from the capital Changwon, other large or notable cities include Gimhae and Jinju.

Attractions
Yeongnamnu in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province. A pavilion from the Joseon

Gyeongsangnam-do is the home of Haeinsa, a Buddhist temple that houses the Tripitaka Koreana and attracts many tourists. It is in the national park around Jirisan (1,915 m) on the border with Jeollabuk-do. The temple was first built in 802.

Changnyeong County contains three major tourist attractions for the province: Upo Wetland, the natural hotsprings of Bugok, and Hwawangsan.

Yangsan-si contains two major temples for the province: Tongdosa and Naewon Temple

Administrative divisions
Gimhae
Tongyeong
Yangsan

Gyeongsangnam-do is divided into 8 cities (si) and 10 counties (gun). The names below are given in English, hangul, and hanja.

Map # Name Hangul Hanja Population (2012)[2] Subdivisions
— Specific City —
1 Changwon 창원시 昌原市 1,106,081 5 ilban-gu — 2 eup, 6 myeon, 54 haengjeong-dong
2 Gimhae 김해시 金海市 531,383 1 eup, 6 myeon, 12 haengjeong-dong
— City —
3 Jinju 진주시 晉州市 341,221 1 eup, 15 myeon, 15 haengjeong-dong
4 Yangsan 양산시 梁山市 274,770 1 eup, 4 myeon, 8 haengjeong-dong
5 Geoje 거제시 巨濟市 245,972 9 myeon, 10 haengjeong-dong
6 Tongyeong 통영시 統營市 143,039 1 eup, 6 myeon, 8 haengjeong-dong
7 Sacheon 사천시 泗川市 117,968 1 eup, 7 myeon, 6 haengjeong-dong
8 Miryang 밀양시 密陽市 109,967 2 eup, 9 myeon, 5 haengjeong-dong
— County —
9 Haman County 함안군 咸安郡 70,443 2 eup, 8 myeon
10 Geochang County 거창군 居昌郡 63,536 1 eup, 11 myeon
11 Changnyeong County 창녕군 昌寧郡 64,297 2 eup, 12 myeon
12 Goseong County 고성군 固城郡 58,553 1 eup, 13 myeon
13 Namhae County 남해군 南海郡 48,899 1 eup, 9 myeon
14 Hapcheon County 합천군 陜川郡 50,713 1 eup, 16 myeon
15 Hadong County 하동군 河東郡 51,235 1 eup, 12 myeon
16 Hamyang County 함양군 咸陽郡 41,155 1 eup, 10 myeon
17 Sancheong County 산청군 山淸郡 36,079 1 eup, 10 myeon
18 Uiryeong County 의령군 宜寧郡 31,027 1 eup, 12 myeon

Religion

Religion in South Gyeongsang (2005)[3]

  Not religious (45.2%)
  Buddhism (40%)
  Protestantism (8.8%)
  Catholicism (6%)

According to the census of 2005, of the people of South Gyeongsang 40% follow Buddhism and 14.8% follow Christianity (8.8% Protestantism and 6% Catholicism).[3] 45.2% of the population is mostly not religious or follow Muism and other indigenous religions.

Sister districts

See also
Changnyeong Temple at the base of Mount Hwawang

References
  1. 일반 현황 (in Korean). South Gyeongsang Province. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  2. "Population of Gyeongsangnam-do" (in Korean). Gyeongsangnam-do. Archived from the original on 2014-02-25. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  3. "2005 Census - Religion Results". Archived from the original on 2015-09-04.
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