Gijang-gun, Busan

Infobox Korean settlement
logo=Gijang-gun logo.gif
hangul=기장군
hanja=機張郡
rr=Gijang-gun
mr=Kijang kun
area_km2=217.9
pop=242,600
popyear=2006
popden_km2=1113.3
divs=2 "eup", 3 "myeon"

Gijang-gun is a "gun", or county, in northern Busan, South Korea. The current magistrate is Choi Hyeondol.

Due to its location along the coast of the East Sea (Sea of Japan), Gijang is known as a center for the production of various kinds of seafood. These include anchovies and brown seaweed ("miyeok").

Historical landmarks in the county include the Buddhist temple of Jangansa, said to have been first built by Wonhyo in the 7th century. The 14th-century Gijang fortress wall has been preserved, as has a Japanese fortress dating from Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea in the 1590s. Another interesting place in Gijang is Toam Pottery Park.

Gijang is the most rural of Busan's districts, and consists mostly of vacant and agricultural land. Approximately 156.7 of its 217.9 square kilometers are empty and forested, mostly hilly land. The county's population of approximately 80,500 has risen steadily since 1990, when it stood at 56,847.

Gijang first appears under its current name in the annals of the year 757, during the Unified Silla period. At that time it was made the "hyeon" of Gijang, part of Dongnae-gun. The "Samguk Sagi" records that it was known as Gaphwayanggok (甲火良谷) previously.

Administrative divisions

Gijang is divided into five parts, three "myeon" (rural townships) and two "eup" (larger towns):

*Gijang-eup
*Jangan-eup
*Ilgwang-myeon
*Jeonggwan-myeon
*Cheolma-myeon

References

*cite web|url=http://www.gijang.go.kr/gover/data/data2.asp|accessdate=2006-08-13|title=Gijang-gun Statistical Yearbook 2005 (online version)

ee also

*Administrative divisions of South Korea
*Geography of South Korea

External links

* [http://english.gijang.go.kr/ Gijang County Office]
* [http://www.invil.org/english/village/busan/contents.jsp?con_no=373601&page_no=1 Imran Village profile from Invil]
* [http://english.busan.go.kr/city_gover/01_05_16.htm Profile from Busan City administration]