Gyeongsang

Infobox Korean settlement
title = Gyeongsang Province
context = old
hangul = 경상도
hanja = 慶尙道
rr = Gyeongsang-do
mr = Kyŏngsang-do
hangulshort = 경상
rrshort = Gyeongsang
mrshort = Kyŏngsang
gov = Province
region = Yeongnam
dialect = Gyeongsang

Gyeongsang ("Gyeongsang-do") was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Gyeongsang was located in the southeast of Korea. The provincial capital was Daegu. The region was the birthplace of Shilla, the first unified Korean country in Korean history. The region also has been taken a significant role in Korean modern history, since most of Korean previous presidents and current president has been came from the Gyeongsang region. Today, the region is divided into 5 administative divisions, which is consist of 3 indepedent cities of Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, and 2 provinces of Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do. The largest city in the region is Busan, followed by Daegu. Sub-regionally, the region is also divided into Gyeongbuk and Gyeongnam. Gyeongbuk is consist of Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do, while Gyeongnam is consist of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do.

History

The predecessor to Gyeongsang Province was formed during the Goryeo Dynasty, replacing the former provinces of Yeongnam, Sannam, and Yeongdong.

Gyeongsang acquired its current name in 1314. The name derives from names of the principal cities of Gyeongju (경주; 慶州) and Sangju (상주; 尙州).

In 1895, Gyeongsang Province was replaced by the Districts of Andong ("Andong-bu;" 안동부; 安東府) in the north, Daegu ("Daegu-bu;" 대구부; 大邱) in the centre, Jinju ("Jinju-bu;" 진주부; 晉州府) in the southwest, and Dongnae ("Dongnae-bu;" 동래부; 東萊府; modern-day Busan) in the southeast.

In 1896, Andong, Daegu, and northern Dongnae Districts were merged to form North Gyeongsang Province, and Jinju and southern Dongnae Districts were merged to form South Gyeongsang Province. North and South Gyeongsang are today part of South Korea.

Today, the Gyeongsang region is a stronghold of the conservative Grand National Party in Korean politics.

Geography

Gyeongsang Province was bounded on the west by Jeolla and Chungcheong Provinces, on the north by Gangwon Province, on the south by Korea Strait, and on the east by the Sea of Japan (East Sea). The region is ringed by the Taebaek and Sobaek Mountains and is drained by the Nakdong River.

The largest cities in the region are Busan, Daegu, and Ulsan. Other cities of note are Gyeongju (the former capital of Silla), Andong, Yeongju, Sangju, Gimcheon, Miryang, Gimhae, Changwon (the capital of South Gyeongsang), Masan, and Jinju.

The Gyeongsang region as a whole is often referred to by the regional and former provincial name of "Yeongnam." (The term "Yeongdong" is applied today to Gangwon Province.)

Notable personalities

* Kim Su (Hangul:김수 Hanja:金睟), the governor of Gyeongsang province (Hangul:경상순찰사 Hanja:慶尙巡察使), before the Imjin War.

External links

* [http://seoul600.visitseoul.net/seoul-history/sidaesa/txt/5-3-2-1.html Seoul City history article on Hanseong and 22 other late 19th-century districts (in Korean)]