T'ongch'ŏn County is a kun, or county, in Kangwŏn province, North Korea. It abuts the Sea of Japan (East Sea of Korea) to the north and east. Famous people from T'ongch'ŏn include Hyundai Founder Chung Ju-yung, who is believed to have been born there.
T'ongch'ŏn County
통천군 | |
|---|---|
| Korean transcription(s) | |
| • Chosŏn'gŭl | 통천군 |
| • Hancha | 通川郡 |
| • McCune-Reischauer | T'ongch'ŏn kun |
| • Revised Romanization | Tongcheon-gun |
 A view of downtown T'ongch'ŏn-ŭp, North Korea. | |
 Map of Kangwon showing the location of Tongchon | |
| Country | North Korea |
| Province | Kangwŏn Province |
| Administrative divisions | 1 ŭp, 30 ri |
| Area | |
| • Total | 607 km2 (234 sq mi) |
| Population (2008 census) | |
| • Total | 89,357 |
| • Density | 150/km2 (380/sq mi) |
History edit
The region was called Hyuyang county during the reign of King Gwanggaeto. The region became part of Silla during the reign of King Jinheung,[1] The modern borders of the county was set in 1952, after the county was reformed.[2]
Current administrative divisions edit
T'ongch'ŏn county is divided into 1 ŭp (town) and 30 ri (villages):
T'ongch'ŏn-ŭp edit
The town contains the administrative centre of the county, and was created in 1952.[3] The town has the tomb of the ancestor of the Tongchon Kim clan, known for being the son of Crown Prince Maui.[4] The town also hosts the Chongseok gazebo (Chongsokjong), known as one of the eight scenic sites of Kwandong region (Kwandongpalgyeong), and is designated by the dprk as the no. 214 in the list of the Natural monuments of North Korea.[5]
Changdae-ri edit
Changdae-ri(長臺里) village is known for its Gwangdaeam mountain and Jangdaechon river.[6]
Changjil-li edit
The village of Changjil-li( is known for its narrow Spit at the coast.[7]
Chasal-li edit
Chasal-li village was named after the mountain Chasan.The town is a major production center for Perenniporia,used for traditional medicine.[8]
Chungch'ŏl-li edit
The village is famous for its Osmunda japonica.97% of the town is mainly a forest area.[9]
Hasu-ri edit
The village was named for having an intersection of different river streams merging.The town's geographical features are mainly beaches and mounds with rather low height.[10]
Hwat'ong-ri edit
The village was named as such for a big market that has existed in the region.[11]
Kahŭng-ri edit
89% of the village is farmland.[12]
Kangdong-ri edit
The village was named as such for its rivers.The region is home to the sijung lake.[13]
Kŏsŏng-ri edit
The village contains lot of pasture used to raise cows, and has a over the water route connected from the Chigung harbor.[14] Near the village of Munchi in the southern side of Kosongri village, the mound called Munchiryong,which was historically known for thieves and tigers, is located near Potanri and Tongchonup,[15]
Kŭmral-li edit
The village was named after Kumran cave.known to have the legend of being the storehouse for the mythical plant of immortality.[16]
Kunsal-li edit
The village was newly created, and was named as such for its group of mountains, but the region mainly consists of plains.[17]
Kuŭp-ri edit
The village was named as such because it was the old administrative center of the county.The region is home to the Tongchonbol, a vast plain.[18]
Mip'yŏng-ri edit
The village was named as such for its plains under the mountains.[19]
Myŏnggo-ri edit
The village was named for the crying of cranes in the nearby mountains.The region is home to the Chonapo lake.[20]
Pangp'o-ri edit
The region has the gwanggyochon and jijangchon rivers.[21]
Pyŏg'am-ri edit
The region is home to the Suchong and Kidae mountains.[22]
P'aech'ŏl-li edit
The region is known for its rivers.Kumbong river is home to the Big-scaled redfin.[23]
P'ungsal-li edit
The village hosts the Kumbong river in its southern side.[24]
Rimong-ri edit
Rimong-ri(梨木里) was named as such for its collection of pear trees.[25]
Rosang-ri edit
The village was named for its location on the top of the road.[26]
Ryongch'ŏl-li edit
The village was named after a stream where legend tells a dragon ascended from.[27]
Ryongsu-ri edit
The region was named as such because it sources its water used for agriculture from the Ryongso pond.[28]
Sillim-ri edit
The region produces potatoes and beans.[29]
Sindae-ri edit
The village was named as such because it was newly founded city.The rivers of Kahung and Kyegok flow through the region.[30]
Sinhŭng-ri edit
The village was named as such because it was a newly created village.[31]
Songjŏl-li edit
The town was originally known as Solbatgu, meaning pine tree town.[32]
Taegong-ri edit
The village has a noticeable sericulture industry.[33]
Poho-ri edit
Major produce in the region is corn and rice.[34]
Pongho-ri edit
The village was named after the peak and lake.73% of its land consists of mountainous areas.[35] On the northwest side of the village a mountain known as sanyanggogae(or saeyangigogae) is connected to the sanyang village in Potalli village.[36]
Pot'al-li edit
The village was named for its coal.The region hosts the Potan mountain.[37] The region also has the hakjang valley(hakjanggol) in the Hakjang mountain, known as the breeding site of Cranes.[38]
Old administrative divisions edit
Due to the relatively scarce resources about the current regions occupied by north korea, south korea base their administrative divisions of the Northern regions based on the subdivisions before liberation of korea in 1945 or the korean war.Here are the subdivisions that existed.
Gojeoeup edit
The town of Gojeoeup (庫底邑), with an area of 90.07km2, was created in 1936 as a renamed version of Sunryeongmyeon(順嶺面), was created in 1914 as a result of the merger of Sundalmyeon and Ryeongoemyeon. It was home to the Chongsukjong in Chongsokri, the Eosusanseong fortress in Sanggojeori, and the Ssanghaksanseong fortress in Toilri. The town had 19 ris, which were Hagojeo, sanggojeo, Eoun, samgye, Guhang, pohang, banwol, saho, Hungun, Baekjong, Botong, sin, sinwol, Oryu, jeonsan, toil, jeonchon, chongsok and tongsudong. The town was demoted to Gojeomyeon in 1949.[39][1]
Physical features edit
The terrain is mountainous in the west, sloping down to the coastal plains (including the T'ongch'ŏn Plain and Hupkok Plain) in the east. The plains are used for rice cultivation. The area is prone to fog. As elsewhere along the Kangwŏn coast, there are various lagoons.
Economy edit
Due to the extensive plains, agriculture is a major local industry; in addition to rice, the county produces barley, wheat, oats, millet, maize, soybeans, and potatoes. Lumbering and fishing also play a role.
Tourism edit
The region has long been a popular destination due to the proximity of Mount Kŭmgang and, in recent years, tourists from South Korea have passed through the area in great numbers.
Transport edit
- Road
A highway runs along the coastline.
- Rail
T'ongch'ŏn county is served by T'ongch'ŏn Station and five other stations on the Kŭmgangsan Ch'ŏngnyŏn Line of the Korean State Railway.
Legends edit
Salt vendor and the Yeolnyeo edit
Also known as soul of yeollyeo, the legend is associated with Chongsokjong.It tells the story of a farmer Lee si taek, who after going on a long journey as a salt merchant finds a house where a yeollyeo who lives alone because her husband died from a tiger attack. She later kills the tiger with an axe. After finding her husband's corpse she chooses to commit suicide by burning herself in fire to follow his husband.[40]
Notable people from Tongchon County edit
- Chung Ju-yung, South Korean entrepreneur, businessman and the founder of Hyundai Group
- Ri Yong-ho, North Korean vice-marshal
- Ri Chun-hee, North Korean broadcaster for Korean Central Television
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "통천군". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.
- ^ "통천군 개요". cybernk.
- ^ "통천읍".
- ^ "[가문의 뿌리] 마의태자 아들 시조 '통천김씨'".
- ^ "통천군(通川郡)". nk.chosun.
- ^ "장대리".
- ^ "장진리".
- ^ "자산리".
- ^ "중천리".
- ^ "하수리".
- ^ "화통리".
- ^ "가흥리".
- ^ "강동리".
- ^ "거성리".
- ^ "문치령".
- ^ "금란리".
- ^ "군산리".
- ^ "구읍리".
- ^ "미평리".
- ^ "명고리".
- ^ "방포리".
- ^ "벽암리".
- ^ "패천리".
- ^ "풍산리".
- ^ "이목리".
- ^ "노상리".
- ^ "용천리".
- ^ "용수리".
- ^ "신림리".
- ^ "신대리".
- ^ "신흥리".
- ^ "송전리".
- ^ "대곡리".
- ^ "보호리".
- ^ "봉호리".
- ^ "산양고개".
- ^ "보탄리".
- ^ "학장골".
- ^ "고저읍".
- ^ "열녀의혼".
External links edit
- In Korean language online encyclopedias: